00:02We go now to the Bahamas, where the national team has called upon its big names for a vital
00:07window of FIBA World Cup 2027 America's qualifiers next month.
00:13Headlining a 24-player preliminary squad are DeAndre Ayton, Buddy Heald, Eric Gordon,
00:19and Vijay Edgecombe, the same core that helped the team reach the final of the 2024 FIBA
00:25Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Spain, where they beat Finland, Poland, and Lebanon
00:30before falling to the host nation.
00:35Ayton, who starred in that run, helped the Los Angeles Lakers reach the second round of
00:40the playoffs this past NBA season, while Edgecombe is coming off a spectacular debut campaign with
00:47the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 16 points and 4 assists, finishing third in Rookie of
00:54the Year voter.
00:56Bahamas are at the bottom of Group B of qualifying with a 1-3 record, making results against Jamaica
01:02on July 3, and Puerto Rico three nights later, vital to their hopes of qualifying for the
01:07second round, as the Bahamians aim to reach a first World Cup.
01:16To Croatia, where Ivica Zubac has been included in an 18-player preliminary squad, ahead of its
01:23European World Cup qualifiers.
01:27The 29-year-old's NBA season was cut short due to a rib injury sustained in March, playing
01:34just five games for the Indiana Pacers after being traded from the LA Clippers a month earlier.
01:41Zubac powered Croatia's run to the final of the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece
01:47two years ago, his side falling to the host nation in the final, and he is joined by four
01:53others from that team, fellow center Danko Branković, star forwards Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja,
02:00and playmaker Jalene Smith.
02:05Croatia has already qualified for the second round, sitting atop Group E with a 3-1 record,
02:11but having missed the 2023 World Cup, will be keen for full points from its clashes with
02:17Cyprus and Israel.
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