CZE/LAT - Czechs and Latvia happy to avoid Cuba, Brazil

MADRID (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for women) - The Czech Republic and Latvia both expressed their satisfaction after avoiding Brazil and Cuba in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women.

The Czech Republic were on Monday drawn in Group B along with Argentina and Angola while good fortune smiled on Latvia and placed them in Group A with Senegal and Japan.

Games will be played in Madrid from June 9-15 with five teams securing berths for the Beijing Olympics.

"I think it's a good draw for us," Czech basketball Secretary General Milos Prazak told FIBA.com.

"All of the teams which made it to the qualifying tournament are strong. But I think we should be better than Argentina and Angola.

"And in the other group (A), I think Latvia and Japan will make it through. Of course it will not be an easy game, but I think we should be able to qualify."

But Prazak emphasized: "Most important is that we avoided Brazil and Cuba. So I think we will be okay."

Latvia's assistant coach Ainars Cukste also said he was happy his Baltic nation avoided Brazil and Cuba.

"I think Groups C and D are stronger than A and B. We are happy that we did not have to play Brazil or Cuba in the final eight."

Cukste thinks it is important that Latvia finish first in Group A and that the Czech Republic take Group B, adding: "We don't want to face Czech Republic in the quarter-finals. We usually play very bad against the Czechs. We hope we can play against Argentina."

Latvia's experience at last summer's EuroBasket Women and the national team players' showing in the EuroLeague Women will help the country's chances in Madrid.

"The experience that the players got in Italy and are getting in the EuroLeague is very important in that they are learning to play harder," Cukste added.

"We hope to play like we did in Italy. It was great."

Cukste coaches Latvian national team player Ieva Tare as head coach at TTT Riga.

"Beijing would be the biggest success ever for Latvian basketball," he added. "We are such a small country and this would mean so much."

FIBA