Venezuelan basketball team back to Olympics after 24-year absence

Venezuelan men's basketball team will debut on Saturday night against Serbia at the Rio Olympics after a 24-year absence since making their first ever appearance at Barcelona 1992.

In Group A, Venezuela will face Australia, China, France, the United States and Serbia while Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Spain, Lithuania and Nigeria form Group B.

After the preliminaries, four best teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will begin on Aug. 17.

The semifinals will be played on Aug. 19. The champion and bronze medal matches will take place on Aug. 21, the closing day of Rio 2016.

Venezuela's first Olympic appearance was at the 1992 Games in Barcelona when they qualified after coming in second during the qualification tournament held in Portland, United States.

Nestor Che Garcia's team is made up of Anthony Perez, David Cubillan, Gregory Echenique, Gregory Vargas, Dwight Lewis, Heisslert Guillent, John Cox, Jose Vargas, Miguel Marriaga, Miguel Ruiz, Nestor Colmenares and Windi Graterol.

Venezuela have sent 87 athletes at Rio 2016 participating in 19 sports, 22 less than the number for Beijing 2008 but 17 more than that for London 2012.

Venezuela has won a total of 12 medals in their Olympic history, including two gold, two silver and eight bronze medals with boxing being the South American country's most successful sport, taking home five medals out of it. Endit