By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Turkish national team didn’t make it to the upcoming FIBA World Cup. Instead, Ergin Ataman’s team will participate in the FIBA Pre-Qualifying Olympic Tournament from August 12 to 20.
Turkey will host a group comprising Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Iceland, and they are considered clear favorites to secure first place. The federation has announced the preliminary roster, which includes Shane Larkin and four NBA players.
Larkin, an American player from Anadolu Efes, still holds the position of a naturalized player. Among the 21 players called up, Cedi Osman from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Alperen Şengün from the Houston Rockets, Ömer Yurtseven from the Miami Heat, and Furkan Korkmaz from the Philadelphia 76ers have stood out.
Turkey is not only the favorite to win their group but also the entire tournament held in Istanbul, where they will compete against the Netherlands, Croatia, Belgium, and Sweden.
The winner of the tournament will qualify for the 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Full list: Shane Larkin (Anadolu Efes), Erten Gazi (Anadolu Efes), Furkan Haltali (Anadolu Efes), Yigit Arslan (Bahcesehir), Okben Ulubay (Besiktas), Ercan Osmani (Darussafaka), Dogus Ozdemiroglu (Darussafaka), Sahmus Hazer (Fenerbahce), Scottie Wilbekin (Fenerbahce), Onuralp Bitim (Bursa), Yigitcan Saybir (Bursa), Sadik Emir Kabaca (Galatasaray), Kenan Sipahi (Pinar Karsiyaka), Berk Ugurlu (Tofas), Berke Buyuktuncel (Tofas), Erkan Yilmaz (Turk Telekom), Cedi Osman (Cleveland Cavaliers), Sertac Sanli (Barcelona), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets), Omer Yurtseven (Miami Heat), Furkan Korkmaz (Philadelphia 76ers).