Giannis Antetokounmpo (R) of Greece shoots in one of the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments finals against Croatia in Piraeus, Greece, July 7, 2024. /CFP
Greece, Spain, Brazil and Puerto Rico secured the final fourth berths for the men's basketball event at the upcoming 2024 Paris Summer Olympics after winning finals at the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments on Sunday.
Greece beat Croatia 80-69 in the final in Piraeus, Greece. The host team's NBA megastar Giannis Antetokounmpo made eight of his 17 shots on the way to finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists. He will make his Olympic debut in Paris.
"It's very nice to qualify because that's the first step," Greek center Georgios Papagiannis said. "At the Olympics, we're looking to do something really good there."
Greece haven't played at the Olympics since the 2008 edition in Beijing.
Rudy Fernandez (#5) of Spain shoots in one of the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments finals against the Bahamas in Valencia, Spain, July 7, 2024. /CFP
Spain beat the Bahamas 86-78 in the Qualifying Tournament final at home in Valencia to secure their seventh straight appearance at the Summer Olympics.
Four players scored in double digits for Spain, led by 18 points from Lorenzo Brown, who connected on four triples from five attempts.
The three NBA players competing for the Bahamas – Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon – combined to contribute 51 points.
Both Greece and Spain will play in Group A with Australia and Canada at the Paris Olympics.
Leo Meindl (#14) of Brazil shoots in one of the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments finals against Latvia in Riga, Latvia, July 7, 2024. /CFP
Brazil walked over Latvia 94-69 in the Qualifying Tournament final in Riga, Latvia. The game was decided early after Brazil opened the contest with a brutal 19-0 run.
Leo Meindl and Bruno Caboclo scored 20 and 21 points, respectively, for Brazil. Their side shot 13-for-24 from downtown and posted a total field goal rate of 50 percent (26-for-52).
The hosts for the Qualifying Tournament, Latvia, missed 39 of their 62 shots and only had three players score in double digits with none exceeding 15 points.
Brazil are in Group B with France, Germany and Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics after missing the pandemic-delayed competition in Tokyo in 2021.
Jose Alvarado of Puerto Rico reacts after making a three-pointer in one of the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments finals against Lithuania in San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 7, 2024. /CFP
Puerto Rico stunned Lithuania 79-68 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to end a 20-year-old Olympic drought. Their defense limited the opposing side to shooting 25-for-60 from the field. Jose Alvarado went 9-for-14, en route to scoring 23 points for the hosts.
Lithuania's NBA All-Star center Domantas Sabonis finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists but also committed four turnovers.
Puerto Rico will compete in Group C with the USA, Serbia and South Sudan in Paris.