Nikola Jokic and Serbia are a rising basketball power, but they still need to qualify for the Olympics. (Getty)
During the next week, 18 hopeful nations will battle it out for the three remaining spots in the 2016 Olympic basketball tournament.
For the uninitiated, qualification is simple. The 18 squads are broken up into three six-team tournaments, which are held in the following locations: Belgrade, Serbia; Manila, Philippines; and Turin, Italy.
The winner of each tournament will go to Rio.
Here’s a look at the schedule and groups for each tourney:
2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Serbia
Group A
Serbia
Angola
Puerto Rico
Group B
Japan
Czech Republic
Latvia
Schedule
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time (ET) |
| 1 | Japan vs. Latvia | Monday, July 4 | Noon |
| 2 | Serbia vs. Puerto Rico | Monday, July 4 | 3 p.m. |
| 3 | Puerto Rico vs. Angola | Tuesday, July 5 | Noon |
| 4 | Latvia vs. Czech Republic | Tuesday, July 5 | 3 p.m. |
| 5 | Angola vs. Serbia | Wednesday, July 6 | Noon |
| 6 | Czech Republic vs. Japan | Wednesday, July 6 | 3 p.m. |
| Semifinal 1 | Group A Winner vs. Group B Runner-Up | Friday, July 8 | Noon |
| Semifinal 2 | Group B Winner vs. Group A Runner-Up | Friday, July 8 | 3 p.m. |
| Championship | Semifinal Winner vs. Semifinal Winner | Saturday, July 9 | 3 p.m. |
2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Philippines
Group A
Turkey
Senegal
Canada
Group B
France
New Zealand
Philippines
Schedule
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time (ET) |
| 1 | Turkey vs. Canada | Tuesday, July 5 | 6:30 p.m. |
| 2 | France vs. Philippines | Tuesday, July 5 | 9 p.m. |
| 3 | Canada vs. Senegal | Wednesday, July 6 | 6:30 p.m. |
| 4 | Philippines vs. New Zealand | Wednesday, July 6 | 9 p.m. |
| 5 | Senegal vs. Turkey | Thursday, July 7 | 6:30 p.m. |
| 6 | New Zealand vs. France | Thursday, July 7 | 9 p.m. |
| Semifinal 1 | Group A Winner vs. Group B Runner-Up | Saturday, July 9 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Semifinal 2 | Group B Winner vs. Group A Runner-Up | Saturday, July 9 | 9 p.m. |
| Championship | Semifinal Winner vs. Semifinal Winner | Sunday, July 10 | 9 p.m. |
2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Italy
Group A
Greece
Mexico
Iran
Group B
Tunisia
Croatia
Italy
Schedule
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time (ET) |
| 1 | Greece vs. Iran | Monday, July 4 | Noon |
| 2 | Tunisia vs. Italy | Monday, July 4 | 3 p.m. |
| 3 | Iran vs. Mexico | Tuesday, July 5 | Noon |
| 4 | Italy vs. Croatia | Tuesday, July 5 | 3 p.m. |
| 5 | Mexico vs. Greece | Wednesday, July 6 | Noon |
| 6 | Croatia vs. Tunisia | Wednesday, July 6 | 3 p.m. |
| Semifinal 1 | Group A Winner vs. Group B Runner-Up | Friday, July 8 | Noon |
| Semifinal 2 | Group B Winner vs. Group A Runner-Up | Friday, July 8 | 3 p.m. |
| Championship | Semifinal Winner vs. Semifinal Winner | Saturday, July 9 | 3 p.m. |
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