3x3 European Championships qualifying groups set

BUCHAREST (3x3) - FIBA Europe announced on Friday the qualifier groups for the inaugural 3x3 European Championships which are set to take place in Bucharest, Romania from 5-7 September.

The three qualifiers will take place at Lake Balaton in Zanka, Hungary from 12-13 July; Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 19 July; and the Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia from 2-3 August.

The 32 national federations that applied to play in the 3x3 European Championships have been drawn to play in one of the three qualifiers.

The teams have been assigned to their groups based on their 3x3 Federation Ranking as of 30 April 2014 and were asked to meet the 3x3 eligibility rule of having at least three 3x3 FIBA-endorsed events held in their territory in the twelve months prior to the cut-off date. Similarly, all players will be registered on 3x3planet.com, have played in at least two 3x3 FIBA-endorsed events in the twelve months prior to the cut-off date and have a valid passport issued by the represented country.

In the men's draw, the top five finishing teams from qualifier 1 at Lake Balaton will earn entry to the 3x3 European Championships. From the 2nd qualifier in Amsterdam, the top four teams shall qualify for Romania. However, as the host nation of the Championship, should Romania finish in the top four in Amsterdam, then the fifth-placed team shall also qualify. In qualifier 3 in Riga, the first six teams will take their place in Romania.

The same principles shall apply on the women's side of the draw, with the slight exception that, as Romania play in qualifier 1, should they finish in the top five placings, then the sixth-placed team will also qualify for the 3x3 European Championships.

Despite currently serving a suspension handed down by FIBA, the Slovak Republic were also drawn and shall be able to compete, should they meet the requirements set down by FIBA, allowing their suspension to be lifted prior to the qualifiers taking place.

The top 15 teams from the 3x3 European Championships will earn their ticket for the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.