RUS - Blatt’s team right on track

SAN ANTONIO (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Injuries have robbed Russia of forward Andrey Vorontsevich and Sergei Bykov for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela, but David Blatt's squad still has plenty of weapons to use against Korea and the Dominican Republic in Group C.

The national team arrived in San Antonio, Texas, several days ago and began working out at the Spurs’ training facility.

The NBA club has gone all out to make the Russians feel at home.

"It's just fantastic," Blatt said.

"These are the best conditions for training that I’ve ever had in my career.

"The employees of the club have done everything that we needed.”

After a few days of workouts, Russia on Monday faced Great Britain and won easily, 87-51.

"Our team had a good game," Blatt said.

"In training, the guys work well, and in the game they did all that was required of them.

"And while the UK team didn’t play at full strength, perhaps, which somewhat simplified our task, I can say that our team is now moving the ball well and took care of the ball."

The Brits did not play with Luol Deng, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Joel Freeland or Robert Archibald.

Ben Gordon, a player that Britain has wanted to welcome to the squad for the past few years with open arms, so far has not shown up.

Rest assured, Britain will be much better once the London Games come around and that’s even if Gordon decides not to play.

Unlike Russia, they do not have to go through the OQT.

"I must emphasize that no one should be carried away by the result (against Britain)," Blatt said.

"This game was only part of the preparation, training ... however, for us, the coaching staff, every detail is important.

"Every day we discuss our work, we analyze every game and training time, because on 29 June, at the end of this not very long period of preparation, we have to decide which players gets to the final of the Russian national team and take part in the qualifying tournament in Venezuela."

Russia were due to face another OQT-bound team, Lithuania, on Wednesday.

The Lithuanians are led by Blatt’s good friend and former assistant coach at Dynamo St Petersburg and Benetton Treviso, Kestutis Kemzura.

FIBA