Sports
Syracuse basketball freshman Donnie Freeman and his Bahamas team advance in FIBA tournament – syracuse.com
Bahamas' forward #9 Donavan Freeman and Finland's forward #13 Olivier Nkamhoua (R) vie for the ball during the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament basketball match between Finland and Bahamas in Valencia, on July 2, 2024. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP) (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
Syracuse, N.Y. — Donnie Freeman and his Bahamas team defeated Lebanon 89-72 Saturday in Valencia, Spain, and are one win away from playing in the Paris Olympics.
But Spain, the host team and the No. 2 ranked FIBA-ranked team in the world, stands in the Bahamas’ way. Spain held off a strong challenge from Finland for an 81-74 win on Saturday to advance to Sunday’s final. Willy Hernangomez, a veteran of seven seasons in the NBA, led Spain with 28 points on Saturday.
Just one team emerges from each Olympic Qualifier location. The final that determines which team qualifies from Valencia is scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Bahamas beat Lebanon Saturday with 24 points and 15 rebounds from Deandre Ayton and 19 points from Buddy Hield. Freeman did not get into the game.
The Bahamas, ranked 57th in the world by FIBA, has been on a remarkable run through the Spain qualifying draw and has not lost a game in the tournament. The Bahamas has beaten No. 20 Finland, No. 15 Poland and No. 28 Lebanon.
Freeman has played sparingly on a team with three NBA players and a freshman from Baylor, VJ Edgecombe, commanding the most attention and the most playing time. Edgecombe, a guard who is 18 years old, has been at times the Bahamas’ best player. He scored 13 in Saturday’s win.
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