Bahrain vs Puerto Rico: Analysis and Prediction – Bahrain and Puerto Rico will play an Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament game.
Bahrain vs Puerto Rico Odds
Bahrain Team News
Bahrain entered the qualifying tournament without any friendly games, having last played in the Asian Cup in February where they achieved one win and one loss. In those February games, they were defeated by Lebanon by a staggering 31 points, despite Lebanon being one of the lowest-ranked teams on the FIBA list. In the first round against Italy, Bahrain suffered a heavy loss with a score of 114:53.
Currently ranked 67th in the world by FIBA, Bahrain appears to be the biggest surprise among the 24 teams competing in the Olympic qualifying tournament. They recorded the biggest loss in the history of Olympic qualifying tournaments against Italy. It was hardly expected that they would provide significant resistance against Italy, where Ahmed Haji and Mohammed Hamoda stood out as the only double-digit scorers for Bahrain. The 19 turnovers they committed against Italy best illustrate the difference in quality between the teams. Considering that their next opponent is the tournament host, Puerto Rico, in San Juan, it is clear how difficult a task they face, despite being the biggest unknown in the tournament.
Although Puerto Rico is a much less formidable opponent than Italy, Bahrain would need to play the best game in their history to secure a victory. While their desire to achieve this is unquestionable, there is a significant doubt about how realistic that outcome is.
Puerto Rico Team News
Puerto Rico qualified for this Olympic qualifying tournament by finishing 12th at the last FIBA World Cup. Since the World Cup, they have played six games, winning three and losing three. Having participated in the Olympics nine times, Puerto Rico has not appeared in the prestigious competition since 2006.
This time, their team is stronger compared to their World Cup roster, now featuring NBA star and Puerto Rico’s top player, Jose Alvarado. Alvarado played 56 NBA games last season, highlighting how much the team will rely on his individual talent. Alongside him are key players like Tremont Waters, Jordan Howard, Stephen Thompson, and Isaiah Pineiro, from whom much is expected. Additionally, George Conditt IV has shown he can perform on the big stage.
Puerto Rico is undoubtedly a superior team and the win against Bahrain would secure their spot in the semifinals. Moreover, they will benefit from immense support from the home crowd as the tournament hosts, facing one of the world’s least competitive teams. It is clear that they must capitalize on this advantage.
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Bahrain vs Puerto Rico H2H
They have never met before.
Absences and Injuries
No injured players.
Bahrain vs Puerto Rico Prediction
The most important factor in this matchup is the significant disparity in quality, heavily favoring Puerto Rico. Playing on their home turf against one of the weakest teams in the world, Puerto Rico is set to secure a spot in the semifinals of the Olympic qualifying tournament with the win over Bahrain. Such a win would boost their confidence, preparing them to challenge any future opponents.
Tip-off Time: Thursday, 04.07.2024, 02:30 CET
Prediction: Puerto Rico -36.5
Odds: 1.74
Sportsbook: 22Bet
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
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