On Friday, the Ireland men's 3x3 team will make their European Championships debut when they take on Latvia and the Netherlands at the FIBA Europe Cup in Copenhagen.
The three-a-side format of basketball is an Olympic sport and both of Ireland's Pool C opponents featured at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Latvia reaching the semi-finals and the Dutch winning Olympic gold after beating host nation France by one point in a final that went to overtime.
Latvia were the previous Olympic men's champions, having won gold at Tokyo 2020.
Ireland qualified for the annual continental championships for the first time after beating Cyprus in the final of a qualifier event in Kosovo in June, paving their way to be among the 12 finalists in Denmark's capital for the 10th edition of the Europe Cup.
Drawn into a three-team group with Latvia and the Netherlands, Ireland, who are coached by Griffith College Éanna head coach Darren McGovern, must finish in the top two to advance to the knockout stages in the tournament that will culminate on Sunday.
The extended Ireland 3x3 squad, which is making final preparations in Serbia, is made up of senior five-a-side internationals John Carroll, Jordan Blount, Sean Jenkins, Matt Treacy, Cian Heaphy.
McGovern told the official Basketball Ireland website: "The guys have been working hard since we arrived at our training camp in Serbia last Friday, along with several sessions back in Ireland.
"Choosing the final four to travel to Copenhagen will be a difficult one, but whoever we pick will be ready to give their all against really tough opposition.
"We're all looking forward to representing Ireland at the highest level in Europe."
3x3 Europe Cup fixtures
Friday, 5 September
Ireland v Latvia, 10.30am
Ireland v Netherlands, 3.45pm
All times Irish time
