Turkey determined to get Qualifiers campaign back on track against Ukraine

ANKARA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Two unexpected defeats in a row against Latvia and Sweden in February knocked Turkey off track in Group B, but coach Ufuk Sarica and his 12 Giant Men will have the chance to get the campaign back on track before it becomes an issue.

Entering a decisive two-game homestand in Ankara, the Turkish side are treading on dangerous ground with a shaky 2-2 mark, but a good result against the 3-1 group leaders Ukraine on Thursday at the Ankara Arena could take the edge off the situation before facing Sweden on Sunday.

"We want to win both games and finish the First Round with four wins. Looking at the big picture, we want to advance in an advantageous position. Everyone around the team is focused on reaching the World Cup. We want to qualify and I hope we will succeed," a determined Sarica reassured Turkey's big-time ambitions, even in the light of the recent slip-ups in the last window.

"But we first have to win these two games."

An energetic and up-tempo team in the FIBA EuroBasket 2017, Turkey have been bogged down in some low-scoring games in Group B and unable to utilize their transition game.

No team has scored fewer fast-break points in the Qualifiers than Ufuk Sarica's side, who have collected just 6.0 points per game on the break, a far cry from their last major competition.

"The loss against Sweden was unfortunate, but we addressed the shortfalls in our performance with the staff at the time. Belarus lost to Slovenia, Croatia lost to Romania at home. These kind of results can happen," the playcaller reflected on the 59-58 defeat in Stockholm, which put Turkey in a slightly more difficult situation in Group B than they would have wanted.

However, Turkey will likely have a new spring to their step for the games against Ukraine and Sweden with the additions of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman, Philadelphia 76ers swingman Furkan Korkmaz and the recently-naturalized Scottie Wilbekin from Darussafaka.

"Cedi and Furkan are with us after the NBA season and I'm very happy with their enthusiasm. Scottie Wilbekin is also going to be a very valuable player of us," coach Sarica talked about the reinforcements, which should make Turkey a much more dangerous team on both ends of the floor, albeit one that has not had the time to mesh.

In order to minimize the risk of having to play an elimination-type contest against Sweden in their last fixture of the First Round, winning is no longer optional for Turkey, who will head into Thursdays game against Ukraine with just a little bit more pressure on their shoulders.

The only team to have topped the Ukrainians in Group B, Turkey snapped up a 67-60 victory in the first meeting between the sides in Kiev back in November thanks to big performances from Tolga Gecim and Sertac Sanli, while Sergii Gladyr top-scored for Yevhen Murzin's side with a game-high 20 points in a losing effort.

This time around, Ukraine's coaching staff will be up against an entirely different and unfamiliar challenge, with the three-headed monster of Osman, Korkmaz and Wilbekin taking center stage for Turkey. On the flip side, the Ufuk Sarica-coached 12 Giant Men will not have much time to make things tick.

"This is a group of players that hasn't played together before. And that is going to be a disadvantage for us, but we will be trying to reduce it during our training," he explained.

Both Turkey and Ukraine could officially clinch tickets to the Second Round by Thursday night in Ankara, though the path to early qualification remains more complicated for the home team and would require a favorable outcome in the other game of the group between Latvia and Sweden.

The first pair of games in Group B will be played on June 28, with the teams taking to the court a couple of days later for the final battles of the First Round of the Qualifiers.

They Said: "Turkish players are always playing braver in front of their own fans. I hope it will happen again. We will create a very nice atmosphere for the spectators in Ankara." – Turkey swingman Furkan Korkmaz

"We want to take part in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China and represent our country in the best possible way. But before that, we need to think about the games against Ukraine and Sweden." – Turkey forward Cedi Osman

"It's always good to be with my brothers and play with them. Our team rhythm is good and we know each other very well." – Ukraine point guard Pooh Jeter

"The main thing for me is now who plays on the court, but how we play. We must be aggressive both on offense and defense. I insist on them adding aggressiveness. It's necessary to fight for every centimeter on the floor." - Ukraine head coach Yevhen Murzin

FIBA