Lassi Tuovi followed the Olympic qualifying draw from Italy.
Lassi Tuovi focuses his thoughts only on overthrowing Poland and the Bahamas. Jenni Gästgivar
Lassi Tuovi followed the Olympic qualifying draw organized by the International Basketball Federation Fiba at home in Bologna.
Tuovi understood that Finland with a triple basket would inevitably end up in the same company as the basketball giants.
The end result was satisfactory. Finland plays in the first group against Poland and the Bahamas.
– Of course, when you play in this format and you’ve come this far, you’re going to face some pretty tough countries. That’s why I couldn’t react to this lottery with anything but excitement, Tuovi began.
– The great thing about this is that after a ten-year break, we are heading back to Spain – hopefully in droves, Tuovi threw a challenge to Susijeng’s fans as well.
Memories of the World Cup
Finland made its debut in the World Cup tournaments in Spain 2014. Then the road rose up already after the first group.
Now the goal is, of course, to win the entire qualifying tournament.
– Poland is quite a familiar opponent. We’ve had consistent games over the years. Surely it is hungry to continue its own story.
– The Bahamas is a bit unknown to everyone, a completely new acquaintance. In the qualifiers, they had a great job thanks to three NBA players. Certainly tough opposition, Tuovi evaluates the opponents in the first group.
Tuovi was there by Henrik Dettmann in the coaching team in Bilbao 2014.
That’s when Suomi fans painted the bleachers of the Bizkaia arena blue and white. The head coach hopes for something the same now.
– This time (July 2nd-7th) coincides conveniently with the summer holidays, and I could imagine that Valencia might be of interest as a destination. A pretty crazy experience is coming, and probably quite a lot of Susijeng fans are going to join.
– It is an important asset for us. We have a chance to bring in a “sixth player”. That’s a pretty big difference compared to others.
Revenge from Spain?
Two matches in the “regular series” should get into the top two. After that, the playoffs begin against the runners-up of the second group.
– You have to look at the whole. We have to stretch to a perfect button performance to be able to play for the Olympic place in the last games.
– The role of a challenger has always suited us. We get to bully the bigger ones, Tuovi reasoned.
The Olympic place is under a rock, so to speak. The second group of the tournament features reigning European champions Spain, who will be backed by a passionate home crowd.
The wolf gang bullied La Roja in the quarter-finals of the summer 2022 EC tournament, but in the end, Spain rolled into the top four with their third-quarter throws.
Would there be a rematch in Valencia?
– Spain is of course the biggest favorite. Maybe we should just focus on getting to the playoffs. These first two games will be challenging, Tuovi dodged the question.
– There is enough to think about, how to get to the group of two.