The preliminary groups of the Koris World Championships will be drawn next Saturday.
Lassi Tuovi is looking forward to Saturday’s WC group draw. PDO
The international basketball association Fiba has been waiting for a long time for the final raffle baskets of the WC tournament starting in August.
On Friday, it finally clarified how the 32 countries that made it to the Games will be divided into eight different initial blocks.
Next Saturday’s draw in Manila will be more like solving a mathematical equation. Straightforward luck does not play such a big role in determining the “suitable” opponents due to different geographical boundary conditions. ´
Susijeng’s head coach Lassi Tuovi arrives in Helsinki to watch the draw. Among the teams in the first basket, Finland can receive either the host country Philippines, the sport’s homeland USA, Spain or Australia.
Tuovi refuses to name his direct favorite.
– The Philippines has the lowest ranking among those countries. But you have to remember that in this context the World Cup tournament is a unique opportunity for them.
The World Cup host gets to open the tournament on the floor of the huge Araneta Coloseum in Manila. It gets 15,000 passionate fans behind it.
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Watch the video to see how Fiba explains the basics of the WC group draw.
– In these games, there will be teams with charm. The Philippines has that potential, because the number of audiences will be unfathomable, Tuovi reminds.
– It would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
USA as favorite
The USA is not only the mother country of the sport, but also the most successful in history with five World Championship golds. However, the previous tournament in China 2019 ended in disappointment, when France already knocked out the United States in the quarterfinals.
The last gold came from the Spanish Games in 2014, which is also Susijeng’s previous World Cup appearance.
At Bilbao’s Bizkaia Arena, Finland was then beaten by the Yankees no less than 114–55.
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Petteri Koponen was beaten by Kyrie Irving in the 2014 World Cup in Spain. PDO
– In any case, the USA is the biggest favorite of the Games, although we have no idea what their team will be.
– The Aussies always play extremely good team basketball. Their game identity has made the team a favorite of many sports people, Tuovi luovi between different options.
Revenge from Spain?
If Finland were to play in the same starting group as Spain, it would inevitably also mean that Brazil would play in the second basket.
– If we meet Spain, there would be a certain revenge in the air, Tuovi refers to the bitter quarter-final defeat of the last EC tournament.
According to Fiba’s restriction, a maximum of two European teams may be in the same starting group. In this way, the other options for the second basket (Greece, Italy, Germany) would inevitably be limited.
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Finland’s possible World Cup opponents
Category 1: Philippines, Spain, USA, Australia
Category 2: Greece, Italy, Germany, Brazil
Category 4: Jordan, Japan, Angola, Ivory Coast
Finland cannot face Iran, the Dominican Republic or New Zealand in the same draw basket.
On the other side of the chart, France, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Canada, Venezuela, Montenegro, Puerto Rico, China, Latvia, Mexico, Georgia, Lebanon, Egypt, South Sudan and Cape Verde may not meet after the initial group at the earliest.
Of course, in practice the draw would proceed in the opposite order. Finland’s turn comes only after the teams in the second basket.
– Finland is in the third basket, so it may be that the team is placed in its place rather than stressing about the lottery result, Tuovi elaborates.
The Manila event gives the first opportunity to feel the electric atmosphere of the World Cup. Luis Scola, Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol guarantee a basket case with glamour.
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Pau Gasol, who played with Kobe Bryant (right), brings basketball credibility to the World Cup draw. PDO
Although Manila is the central location of the tournament, Susijengi can also play its initial group in Okinawa, Japan or Jakarta, Indonesia.
– I’m sure that the sports trip will be memorable, no matter where it goes to any of those three.
Fascinating options
Tuovi coached the challenger team’s trip to Okinawa during the corona virus. So for the coach, Japan would be the most familiar of the teams in the foursome.
However, Tuovi is not afraid, even if the Ivorian national team is playing against him.
– I have a long background in France, and there were a surprising number of these players there.
If the lottery brings together Jordan or Angola, Susijeng’s strict scouting will begin.
– Rarely in sports do you encounter a completely new culture and way of playing. It’s fascinating.
The brightest star of the wolf gang is currently in the grays of the army. The head coach hasn’t heard anything newsworthy from the rookie Lauri Markkanen about things to do.
– Isn’t it good that I haven’t heard anything? Obviously, he has received a lot of attention, Tuovi laughs.