The draw for the EuroBasket 2005 Additional Qualifying Tournament was conducted today in Izmir, Turkey by FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin and Sports Director Kosta Iliev.

Czech Republic, Israel and Hungary will all battle for the final EuroBasket spot on offer in the round robin tournament which will take place on 11-13 September in Novi Sad, Serbia & Montenegro.

Schedule Additional Qualifying Tournament:

11.9., 20:00h: Hungary vs Czech Republic
12.9., 20:00h: Czech Republic vs Israel
13.9., 20:00h: Israel vs Hungary

Israel will be the slight favourites to claim victory in the tournament.

The side features the core of players from EuroBasket 2003 which stunned Slovenia in the elimination round to qualify for the last eight.

The team went through a difficult summer period when head coach David Blatt was forced to step down as he had not completed his coaching certificate.

Zvi Sherf stepped into the breach for his country and led the side to a 4-0 record in the additional qualifying round.

Czech Republic also recorded a 100% record in their group against Estonia and Poland.

The side has a full complement of players for the first time since 1999, with stars Jiri Welsch and Lubos Barton back in the side after a period of rest from national team action.

Hungary round out the three teams in the tournament and will also be dangerous competitors. They feature a strong frontcourt led by Robert Gulyas and Kornel David who led them through additional qualifying.

Gulyas averaged 24 ppg and 9 rpg in the 4 games, while David contributed 16.5 ppg and 6.8 rpg.

While Hungary, Israel and Czech Republic go to Novi Sad hoping to keep their EuroBasket hopes alive, Poland, Netherlands and Sweden will be looking to keep their place among Europe's elite teams in Division A.

The three teams will also travel to Novi Sad for a relegation tournament in which only the winner will maintain the right to play in Division A in 2006 and 2007. The bottom two sides will be relegated to Division B.

Schedule Relegation Tournament:

11.9., 17:30h: Poland vs Sweden
12.9., 17:30h: Sweden vs Netherlands
13.9., 17:30h: Netherlands vs Poland