By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Turkey head coach Ergin Ataman called up 22 players for the last game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Group B opposite Great Britain. The list was released by TBF (Turkish Basketball Federation) on Friday.
The squad is highlighted by four NBA players. Furkan Korkmaz (Philadelphia 76ers), Cedi Osman (Cleveland Cavaliers), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets), and Omer Yurtseven (Miami Heat) were included.
In addition, Sertac Sanli (FC Barcelona) was the other player abroad. Egehan Arna (Besiktas Icrypex), Yigit Arslan (Tofas), Metecan Birsen (Fenerbahce Beko), Onuralp Bitim (Frutti Extra Bursaspor), Berk Demir (Turk Telekom), Berkan Durmaz (Pinar Karsiyaka), Egemen Guven (Anadolu Efes), Sehmus Hazer (Fenerbahce Beko), Sadik Emir Kabaca (Galatasaray Nef), Shane Larkin (Anadolu Efes), Melih Mahmutoglu (Fenerbahce Beko), Kartal Ozmizrak (Bahcesehir Koleji), Yigitcan Saybir (Anadolu Efes), Bugrahan Tuncer (Anadolu Efes), Berk Ugurlu (Tofas), Muhsin Yasar (Tofas), and Samet Yigitoglu (Besiktas Icrypex) earned the remaining spots.
Facing Great Britain in Newcastle will conclude the current stage of the World Cup Qualifiers. Turkey moving on to Group I will be seeking a berth in the World Cup as one of the top three seeds of the six-team group. Another international window set in late August will get things going.
In early September, the team led by Ataman will travel to Tbilisi to take on Montenegro, Bulgaria, Georgia, Belgium, and Spain in Group A action of the 2022 EuroBasket. The top four national teams will qualify for the knockout stage, which will be held in Berlin between 10 and 18 September.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL