By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Turkish Basketball Federation president Hedo Turkoglu discussed the World Cup Qualifiers system with the mid-season “Windows” implemented by FIBA, saying that he wants to see a reform being made and games to be held on summer, rather than during the season.
When asked by Spanish AS, if the FIBA Windows will continue, Turkoglu answered: “I hope not. I hope there is a solution [Between FIBA and EuroLeague] this summer.”
Regarding the absence of star players, that compete in either NBA or EuroLeague, from the midseason national team games, Turkoglu said the following: “There is a conflict between FIBA and EuroLeague and this kind of fights aren’t good. I understand that for certain countries, it’s good to have national team games during this affects big federations: Spain, Turkey, France, Lithuania, Serbia. Our best players are in EuroLeague or in the NBA. They can’t play in the Windows. It affects us on ticket sales, it affects us with our sponsors. They [FIBA and EuroLeague] have to look for the good of European basketball. Now I read that there will be 18 teams in EuroLeague. We don’t want to fight against our clubs! They also represent us on a European level. I don’t know… this isn’t easy. I wish sooner or later there is a solution and we would do what we used to do: Play in the summer and have big tournaments.”