Group C – Russia head coach David Blatt calls Group C the toughest

ANKARA (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Russia head coach David Blatt (interviewed by FIBATV.Com Friday) calls Group C the toughest to predict in the tournament and it’s hard to argue with him.

European powerhouse Greece and hosts Turkey are favourites to top the pool and advance to the Final Round in Istanbul, but it’s anyone’s guess what other two teams will join them in the trip from Ankara.

“I don’t think that the other groups in this World Championship are as open as this one,” said Blatt. “I think in the other three (groups) you have a pretty good idea of who the top four teams will be. Here you can count Greece and Turkey in, but after that there’s no guarantee.”

Part of the reason why it is wide open for the other teams is down to the absence of key players, which has had the effect of levelling things out.

China are without Yao Ming while Russia are missing Andrei Kirilenko and JR Holden and won’t have Viktor Khryapa in the line-up for the first two games.

Both teams were without those same players in their continental competitions last summer and it didn’t stop them from recording creditable finishes as China took silver at the FIBA Asia Championship while Russia came in seventh at EuroBasket.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico – who were impressive in finishing second at last year’s FIBA Americas Championship – were dealt a blow late in their preparations with proven veterans Christian Dalmau and Larry Ayuso pulling out after having their differences with the coaching staff over their roles.

Manolo Cintron though still has a very strong squad with Carlos Arroyo, Jose Juan Barea and Angel Daniel Vassallo leading the way.

The Ivory Coast are an unknown quantity to the other five teams in the group, but as they make their return to the FIBA World Championship 24 years after their maiden – and only other – appearance, they will be eager to show they belong.

Saturday’s action will begin with Greece taking on China. This will be a special game for Greece head coach Jonas Kazlauskas (interviewed by FIBATV.Com Friday) who was in charge of China the last time these two teams met, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with the hosts losing 91-77.

Chinese big men of Yi Jianlian and Whang Zhizhi will hope to take advantage of the absence inside of Sofoklis Schortsanidis – who along with Antonio Fotsis is suspended for his team’s first two games following the fight that broke out in their preparation game against Serbia last week.

The return of Ioannis Bourousis to the line-up can soften the blow of not having Schortsanidis.

History favours Greece in this match-up as they have won four of the five meetings between the two teams.

Later on, Russia will look to overcome the absence of inspirational leader Khryapa when they take on Puerto Rico.

Khryapa has been ruled out of his team’s first two games with a foot injury and this presents Manolo Cintron’s side with their best opportunity to record a first-ever win over the Russians.

How Arroyo fares as a shooting guard – as opposed to his natural position as a point guard – will be a key for Puerto Rico.

These teams have not gone head to head in 12 years and Russia have never been on the losing end (10-0). But without the versatility of Khryapa, this impressive record looks to be under serious threat.

The first day of action will come to a close with the Ivory Coast taking on hosts Turkey.

With an expected capacity crowd cheering them on, Bogdan Tanjevic’s side will want to record an emphatic win to set the tone for their campaign.

However the ‘Elephants’ should not be underestimated and won’t give the Turks anything easy as they try to crash the hosts’ party.

FIBA