Turkey ready to take care of business
ANKARA (2017 FIBA EuroBasket Women Qualifiers) - Turkey are on track to book their usual spot at Final Round as they place trust in a nice mix of experience and youth to lift them to EuroBasket Women 2017.
ANKARA (2017 FIBA EuroBasket Women Qualifiers) - Turkey are on track to book their usual spot at Final Round as they place trust in a nice mix of experience and youth to lift them to FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017.
While the legendary Nevriye Yilmaz is no longer on board, they still have plenty of veteran know-how with long-serving favourites such as Birsel Vardarli Demirmen, Isil Alben and Saziye Ivegin Uner to ensure they don't slip up during the last qualifying window.
| Turkey 16-player preliminary squad for FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Qualifiers | |||
| Isil Alben | Pelin Bilgic | Bahar Caglar | Tugce Canitez |
| Ayse Cora | Birsel Vardarli Demirmen | Pinar Demirok | Aysegul Gunay |
| Ilayda Guner | Quanitra Hollingsworth | Cansu Koksal | Lara Sanders |
| Tilbe Senyurek | Olcay Cakir Turgut | Saziye Ivegin Uner | Esra Ural |
Turkey currently occupy top spot in Group H with a 3-1 record and seem destined to finish in pole position as they will wrap up their campaign with home games against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ankara and then Romania.
While strong favourites to progress, their focus will have been sharpened by their narrow defeat at the end of the previous window back in February when they were beaten in Israel.
That is why much will hinge on Galatasaray playmaker Isil Alben, who is averaging a terrific six assists per game. Although perhaps the biggest factor will be the choice of who fills the naturalised spot.
While Lara Sanders played in Rio, it has been Quanitra Hollingsworth who has been doing the business in the Qualifiers and she leads the team in scoring and rebounding. She has also enjoyed an outstanding start to the season with Yakin Dogu Universitesi in the wake of her summer move from Fenerbahce.
FIBA