Turkey looks to maintain its perfect run and win a position in the FIBA 2010 World Basketball Championship semifinals by beating Slovenia Wednesday.
The Turkish national basketball team, nicknamed the “12 Giant Men,” is set to meet Slovenia in the quarterfinal clash at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, hoping to get its best ever result in the World Championships.
So far, Turkey showed that it has a real chance of finishing the tournament with a remarkable position after beating France following a perfect record in the group stage.
The host team finished first in a group hosting Greece, Russia, Puerto Rico, China and Ivory Coast, before going on to trounce France 95-77 Sunday.
Turkey outclassed France with a late run in the first half and a great start to the second, winning a berth in the quarterfinals. The game ended easier than expected but Turkish players remain cautious about the Slovenian clash, admitting that it will not be as easy as the French match.
Center Ömer Aşık said: “The French match was easier than expected, it was comfortable. But I don’t think the Slovenia match will be that comfortable.”
Guard Ömer Onan, who has been one of the stars of the tournament for the Turkish side with his stunning defensive performance, said that he believed Turkey would make it to the final four.
“We will meet a really good team in Slovenia, but we are in better shape,” the veteran said.
Ömer Onan is expected to take important defensive roles again, with guard Jaka Lakovic being the key member of the Slovenian squad. With 11.3 points the guard is the team’s second highest scorer after Goran Dragic and orchestrates a harmonious Slovenian offense.
Onan is confident of a win, saying: “I believe we will make it to the semifinals.”
One of Turkey’s main assets is that the team has a deep squad and apart from back-ups Cenk Akyol and Barış Ermiş, all 10 players are directly involved in the team’s game plan on both ends.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan İlyasova, for instance, is Turkey’s top scorer, averaging 15 points a game. However, Turkey managed to cope very well when he was having an off night against France. Hidayet “Hedo” Türkoğlu of the Phoenix Suns, who scored 20 on Sunday, may be expected, but guard Sinan Güler’s stepping up to score 17 points was a key factor in Turkey’s win.
Hedo said it was crucial that Turkey gets over the ecstasy quickly and concentrates on the Slovenia match.
“[The France win] was important, but it should not be exaggerated. It was just one win,” said Hedo. “Slovenia is a really good side with good players. It will not be like the one against France. I hope we win and get where we wanted.”
Turkey finished sixth in 2006 and if it manages to beat Slovenia, it will be the team’s best ever result in the World Championships.
In the other quarterfinal clash, last year’s European Championship finalists Serbia and Spain meet for a rematch. Spain prevailed at the European event, but a young Serbian team looks in good shape, while Spaniards missing Pau Gasol look more fragile than last year.
