USA, Canada and Serbia Qualify for Quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics

Mark Few, Andrew Nembhard, Kelly Olynyk and Filip Petrusev will be extending their trip in Paris.

You will be getting to see a handful of Zags fight for a medal in the knockout rounds at the Paris Olympics. A gold medal game between the undefeated Americans and Canadians is very much in the works. Mark Few and Team USA are the obvious favorites to win it all.

Andrew Nembhard (8.3 PPG on 58.8 FG%/50.0 3PT%) had his best performance in the Olympics in the final pool play matchup against Spain. He finished with 18 points on 8-10 FG/2-3 3PT off the bench. As for Kelly Olynyk, it’s been tough for him to stand out on a roster filled with 10 NBA players. Off the bench through three games, he’s averaged only 2.0 PPG and 2.7 RPG.

Serbia and Filip Petrusev went 2-1 through pool play while finishing second in Group C behind the USA. The former Zag has been a solid sidekick to Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt, the two have a strong chemistry with each other. Petrusev has averaged 9.7 PPG on an unbelievable 81.3 FG% to go along with 5.0 RPG.

Unfortunately, Rui Hachimura suffered a left calf injury before the final pool play game for Japan against Brazil and left the team. A tough way to end his second Olympics. The Japanese went winless at 0-3 in pool play. Hachimura finished with averages of 22.0 PPG (2nd most) and 6.5 RPG (15th most). He was one of the best basketball players in Paris.

The quarterfinals tip-off on Tuesday, August 6th. Serbia battles it out with all those Gaels in Australia at 5:30 AM PT. Canada has a tall task with Victor Wembanyama and France at 9 AM PT. USA faces off against Brazil at 12:30 PM PT. All games can be found on Peacock, USA Network and NBCOlympics.com.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho