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Venezuela to face United States, China and Australia in Olympics' basketball

Xinhua, March 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Venezuela's national men's basketball team has been placed in Group A for the upcoming Olympic Games 2016 to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The group brackets the United States, China and Australia and two teams from qualifiers.

The decision was made by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) after the draw was made on Friday which also put Argentina, Spain, Lithuania, Brazil, Nigeria and one other team to be announced, into Group B.

The remaining teams that have yet to qualify will come from the various Olympic qualifying tournaments that will take place in Torino (Italy), Manila (The Philippines) and Belgrade (Serbia).

Venezuela's team, coached by Nestor Garcia, will play their first match on August 6 and their opponent is still to be announced. Afterwards they will take on the United States and then China. It will face Australia at the end of the group stages.

According to FIBA's website, the top four teams in each group will qualify for the knockout stage.

Venezuela's women team will participate in the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in the French city of Nantes from June 13 to 19. Venezuela has been placed in Group D along with Spain and China.

Venezuela's men team, champions of America, qualified for the Olympics for the second time in basketball (Barcelona 1992) after winning the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico. Endit