Silva examines Venezuela squad options for Nantes WOQT

CARACAS (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - The time is quickly approaching for Venezuela's women's team to prove its worth. Will it have what it takes to reach the Rio de Janeiro Games, or is the competition at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) in the French city of Nantes going to be too much to overcome?

Here's what Venezuela coach Oscar Silva knows: there are five Olympic berths to be claimed at the WOQT and his team will play in Group D against China on 13 June and then two days later against Spain.

If they end up getting a win or two and finishes in the top two, the Vintotinto will go up against one of the top two sides from Group C - Belarus, Korea or Nigeria - and the side that prevails in that game will qualify for the Olympics. The loser will have to get two more victories in the WOQT to earn a place in Rio.

What Silva doesn't know is how fast his national team, which is No. 31 in the FIBA World Ranking Women, can close the gap on No. 8 China and No. 3 Spain.

"We're setting our sights on China but we have to be aware of what else might happen," Silva said in statement issued by the Venezuela Basketball Federation.

Silva must first come up with his 12 players. Dianora Rivas, Waleska Perez, Josberly Torres, Luisana Ortega, Endrina Bolivar, Thalia Garcia, Ivaney Marquez, Yosimar Corrales, Sharon Renault, Keysi Ford, Odeth Betancourt, Marielka Garate, Mayerling Landaeta and Mirna Araujo are all practicing with Silva in Caracas now. Ortega, Marquez, Corrales, Garate, Landaeta and Araujo were in the squad that finished fifth at last year's FIBA Americas Women's Championship in Canada.

Cleider Blanco, Daniela Wallen, Mariana Duran, who are all playing in the United States, along with Spain-based Roselis Silva and Ana Garcia, were also in last year's squad. Genesis Rivera is a player in the United States with a chance to make the team as well.

The players working out with Silva are pulling out all stops to make the roster.

"They are here because they have a chance to win a place (in the team)," Silva said, "but they depend on themselves and they have accepted that. Every player needs to not only have the talent and athleticism, but also be able to execute the tactics.

It's not easy to read the game and understand the defense, but they must make an effort because they are playing for a place. - Silva

The coach has been encouraged by what he has seen so far. The focus and the effort is there.

Silva said: "I believe that we are going as we thought we would, there are three cases that are above expectations ... The girls have told me they are committed and we are going to manage our theme of familiarity."

FIBA