Erden hopes to grace Olympic stage

ISTANBUL (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Turkey are going to need all hands on deck this summer if they plan on clinching a spot at the Rio de Janeiro Games. The Twelve Giant Men, rest assured, will have Semih Erden in their squad when they compete at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila.

The 29-year-old has big hands, broad shoulders and strong legs. He can serve as a battering ram on offense, as he did at EuroBasket 2015.

Erden, who returned to the national side last summer after missing the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, averaged 13.2 points per contest in Europe's biggest competition. His 22-point, 8-rebound effort in an 89-87 triumph over Italy on the opening day of Group B in Berlin was vital for the Turks.

After a sub-par performance in a heavy defeat to Spain, Erden had 16 points and 9 rebounds as Turkey prevailed over Germany, 80-75. 

The team claimed another triumph over Iceland. Erden had 18 points in that victory, a 111-102 success after overtime.

He is keen to help out this summer, too. An Olympic appearance is something that the Darussafaka Dogus center told the Turkey Basketball Federation website he desperately wants to make for the first time in his career.

Competing in the Olympics is something that everyone wants. That's why it's up to us to work and prepare in the best way possible. I believe that we got on a very good track last year. - Erden

So how can Turkey improve on 2015? Last year, they were not small, yet Turkey could have had a larger frontline. That might have helped against France, who beat them in the Round of 16. Omer Asik is the country's towering center and he did not play, robbing the team of a rim-protector. The hope is that the 2.13m pivot will be back.

Ergin Ataman's side will have to beat some tough opponents if it is going to make it to Rio. Turkey will play in Group A with Senegal and Canada and if they advance to the next stage of the OQT, Turkey will face a Group B side - France, the Philippines or New Zealand - in a Semi-Final. The two Semi-Final winners will play each other with a spot in the Brazil Games at stake.

Semih Erden (TUR) was a tower of power at EuroBasket 2015

"This year, we're going to prep (prepare) very well in a short period of time," Erden said. "Having such a short amount of time to prep is by no means an excuse for us. We're going to the Philippines ready to win."

After competing against Canada and Senegal, if we're successful, we'll match up against group favorite France. It won't be easy at all. - Erden

"Both Canada and Senegal have NBA players and others who have played in Europe, they're strong teams," Erden said. "It's going to be a high level of competitiveness. We want to come out on top. Hopefully we'll sail out of there having won the right to play at the Olympics."

FIBA