FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2016: Monday Result, Highlights

The journey to Rio de Janeiro kicked into high gear Monday for teams in Serbia and Italy for their respective FIBA qualifying tournaments.

Over the next six days, a total of 12 teams will vie for two of the three remaining Olympic spots. Play gets underway in the Philippines on Tuesday for the third and final spot.

In all three tournaments, teams are split into groups of three prior to the knockout round. The top two teams in each group advance, where they will face off in a Final Four-style tournament. One winner in Serbia, Italy and the Philippines will come out of the tourneys and advance to Rio. 

With that in mind, let's take a look at how Day 1 action went down for the two events on the schedule.

Serbia (Belgrade) Tournament

Group A	Country	Games	W	L	Points Scored	Points Against	Differential	Points
Group B	Country	Games	W	L	Points Scored	Points Against	Differential	Points
1	Serbia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Angola	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1	Latvia	1	1	0	88	48	+40	2
2	Japan	1	0	1	48	88	−40	1
3	Czech Republic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Latvia 88, Japan 48

Dairis Bertans scored a game-high 20 points, including 12 of his team's first 14 points, as Latvia had no trouble in an 88-48 romp over Japan.

Bertans knocked down eight of his 10 field-goal attempts, including three from distance. He had as many threes as Japan did as a team.

Latvian captain Janis Blums also had a strong performance with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Latvia, a clear favorite in Group B, shot 51.6 percent from the floor and knocked down 12 three-pointers. It took advantage of an obviously overmatched Japan squad and shot a scorching 13-of-16 on two-point shots during the first half.

No Latvian player played more than 22 minutes, and everyone who was on the floor suited up for at least nine. Janis Strelnieks was the only player not to score.

Japan, meanwhile, got a team-high 12 points from Kosuke Takeuchi but little else. Latvia held Japan to 28.3 percent shooting overall and a dispiriting 3-of-20 rate from beyond the arc. Naoto Tsuji (11 points) was the only other Japanese player in double figures.

Latvia would lock up a Group B victory if it can take down the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Japan will face elimination against the Czechs on Wednesday.

Italy (Turin) Tournament

Group A	Country	Games	W	L	Points Scored	Points Against	Differential	Points
Group B	Country	Games	W	L	Points Scored	Points Against	Differential	Points
1	Greece	1	1	0	78	53	+25	2
2	Iran	1	0	1	53	78	−25	1
3	Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1	Tunisia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Croatia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Italy	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Greece 78, Iran 53

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a team-high 16 points as one of four Greek players in double figures, as Greece cruised to a 78-53 win over Iran.

The Milwaukee Bucks point forward took advantage of his size and athleticism, knocking down seven of eight shot attempts and filling up the stat sheet. He added three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.

Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos added 10 points and four rebounds, while captain Ioannis Bourousis (11 points, four rebounds) and Stratos Perperoglou (12 points) also hit double digits. Former Florida point guard Nick Calathes orchestrated the offense on his way to a six-point, six-assist outing.

Greece shot 50 percent from the floor overall and knocked down nine three-pointers. Despite a strong first-quarter effort from the Iranian offense, Greece's defense locked down over the final three quarters. Iran scored just 16 total points in the second and fourth quarters, with its star-heavy lineup struggling with Greece's depth.

Former Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi scored a team-high 16 points and added four rebounds. Mohammad Jamshidi Jafarabadi (13 points, five rebounds) and Behnam Yakhchali (12 points) were also in double figures. Production was almost completely nonexistent elsewhere, though, as Iran shot 38.5 percent overall.

The Iranians will try to stave off elimination Tuesday versus Mexico. Greece will await a Mexico team that will either play for the tournament or its livelihood Wednesday.