TUR - Yildizoglu and a nation dream

ISTANBUL (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Ceyhun Yildizoglu didn't cut a happy figure after Galatasaray's recent blowout defeat to Ros Casares in the EuroLeague Women.

A surefire way to bring a smile to his face was to mention these words: Turkey national team.

Yildizoglu, the Galatasaray coach, is also in charge of the national side and last July in Lodz, Poland, the team shook up the basketball landscape by reaching the Final for the very first time.

They played in the game of the century against defending champions France and prevailed in amazing scenes, 68-62, after overtime.

"We had played against them maybe 10 times in the last two years," Yildizoglu said to FIBA.com.

"Only one game we won.

"Before the game, I told my players, 'We can. We have a chance, because we have beaten Montenegro in the game before and they had been unbeaten'.

"I think against France, we played smart, (used) a special zone defense.

"But most important, our faith. We believed."

Turkey did not play as well against Russia in the title clash and lost, 59-42.

But they surpassed expectations just by making it to the gold-medal game.

"It was exciting, it was really good," Yildizoglu said.

"We played in the Final. It was like a dream. Now we have to continue.

"We'll play the qualification (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) in Turkey and it's a great chance for us.

"I trust my players.

"I hope that we will go to the Olympic Games."

Indeed, Turkey can do one of two things.

In Ankara and with a big home crowd behind them, they can take another step toward prominence by making it to London, or they can disappoint and not reach the Olympics.

"We have to prove that the European Championship wasn't by chance," Yildizoglu said.

"At the end of the tournament, no one had expected us to play in the Final against Russia. We were a surprise.

"We want to go to London and our big dream is to get a medal.

"We can.

"Why not?"

FIBA