NEWS

The 18 players who will make up the National Basketball Team which will compete in the 2009 European Championship Eliminations have been announced.

At a press conference held yesterday at Esma Sultan Yalı  it was announced that NBA pivot Mehmet Okur would not play because of an injury, and that coach Bogdan Tanjeviç has not chosen star players Captain Ibrahim Kutluay, Kaya Peker and Serkan Erdoğan to play on the team. Tanjevic indicated that he has formed a team of mostly young players and said, “This lineup is strong enough for the elimination games and the finals. The door to the European Championship isn’t closed to anyone. The players that I didn’t choose this year could be seen next year in the lineup.”

Demirel is hopeful
Tanjevic indicating he wanted Ermal Kurtoğlu to apologize to the team for personal reasons stated, “We gave Ersin Görkem, Sinan Güler and Ümit Sonkol an opportunity to be part of the lineup for the first time. Hopefully they will make the most of the opportunity that has been given to them,” he said.

Basketball Federation President Turgay Demirel says he believes the National Team will be successful in the elimination group and play in the 2009 finals. Demirel, remembering that the team hasn’t appeared in the European Championship since 1993, added, “Our competitors in the elimination games will be France, Ukraine and Belgium - all strong teams. But I believe with all my heart that we will advance into the finals with better numbers than usual.”

The lineup of the national Team includes the following players: Ersin Görkem (Antalya BŞB.), Ersan Ilyasova (Axa Barcelona), Ümit Sonkol (Banvit), Engin Atsür (Benetton), Sinan Güler, Barış Hersek, Bora Hun Paçun, Ender Arslan, Kerem Gönlüm (Efes Pilsen), Oğuz Savaş, Ömer Aşık, Ömer Onan, Semih Erden (F.Bahçe Ülker), Cemal Nalga, Cenk Akyol (G.Saray Café Crown), Hidayet Türkoğlu (Orlando Magic), Kerem Tunçeri (Real Madrid) and Doğuş Balbay (Texas Longhorns).