BELGRADE (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - None of the players who will step out at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) which tips off in Belgrade on Monday has played as much basketball in the last 12 months as Tomas Satoransky of the Czech Republic.

The point guard has been in non-stop action since July last year, starting with the Czech team's preparations for FIBA EuroBasket 2015. Just like Puerto Rico's Carlos Arroyo, his team-mate at FC Barcelona, Satoransky played his last game of the club season on 22 June and then joined the national team in preparation for the OQT.

"We have to keep dreaming and remember that the Olympics is the biggest achievement for an athlete." - Satoransky

The Czech star talked to FIBA.com on the eve of the tournament and you might be surprised to find that fatigue cannot take his eyes of the prize in Belgrade.

FIBA.com: Let's be honest, following such a long season, if someone offered you the holiday of a lifetime in August on the condition that you don't go anywhere near Rio, you would be tempted, right?
Satoransky: It was not simply a long season, it was way too long, but I am taking Rio for sure! I am 24 years old now and I still have years ahead of me but you never know if you will get another chance like this in the future. I choose the Olympics over anything.

FIBA.com: Your opening game at the OQT is against Latvia, the very same team you defeated 10 months ago at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 to earn a spot in this tournament. Are you the ones with the psychological edge in this clash or are you concerned they might be out for revenge?Satoransky: There is no mental advantage, this is a whole new challenge. Maybe they have thought about taking revenge but it is a different game and besides, at the end it so happened that Latvia are also here now although they lost that game. We have been together for only a few days and it's not typical to prepare for a big tournament in such a short amount of time. We are building on our chemistry from the last years and on the fact we know each other for a long time. We know Latvia well, we know they are quality team and they know us too because neither team has changed so much, so I think it will be minor details that decide the game.

FIBA.com: Do you keep reminding yourself that you are part of a team that is looking to make history for Czech basketball or you prefer to focus only on the here and now? Which approach works best for you?
Satoransky: We're very proud just to be here. It's a historical success for us to be able to fight for a spot in the Olympics, it's like a dream come true. Now we have to give everything to take that dream all the way. I think we have to build on this pride but keep dreaming and remember that the Olympics is the biggest achievement for an athlete.

FIBA.com: You have been trying for years to raise the profile of Czech basketball, have you been thinking about the effect it would have back home if you were successful here and clinched the ticket to the Olympics?
Satoransky: Thanks to what we did at the EuroBasket last year, we already had a lot of people following us and I think that to be the only team sport from the Czech Republic in the Olympics would propel basketball even higher. We are fighting for our team but also to make basketball more popular in our country.

FIBA