By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
On the back of the completion of Group A and Group B of the preliminary round, tipoffs of the Round of 16 games on Saturday were confirmed by FIBA.
Turkey matching up with France is among the most intriguing pairings but the early tipoff, opening the schedule at 12:00 CET is a concern for Ergin Ataman.
“The change of the start time of the game against France in Berlin is very disrespectful toward us,” the head coach of the Turkey senior national team told Turkish news agency DHA, “The goal is to prevent our supporters from filling the arena so early. However, I still believe Turkish fans living in Germany will make sacrifices and pack the stands with flags, even in this inappropriate start time.”
The 2022 EuroBasket moving to Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena will resume action with the Round of 16 over the weekend. Following are the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and medal games all the way to 18 September.
Turkey lost to Spain Wednesday and settled in the second seed of Group A trailing La Roja and winning the tiebreaker over Montenegro and Belgium, eventually setting up the game versus the third seed of Group B, France Saturday.
“Considering what we went through during the tournament and the general attitude toward us, I see ulterior motives, not mistakes,” added Ataman referring to the officiating in games of his side in the preliminary round and specifically a technical foul on Furkan Korkmaz late in the Group A Gameday 5 fixture opposite Spain.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL