PODGORICA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Turkey rejoiced in securing their fifth consecutive trip to the FIBA Basketball World Cup and now look forward to finishing the European Qualifiers in strong fashion.

After opening the fifth window of the Qualifiers by beating Spain in Ankara on Thursday, the Turks lost their second game 71-66 against Montenegro. However, a 7-3 record in Group I and the fact of holding tiebreakers over Montenegro, Latvia and Ukraine mean Ufuk Sarica's young team can finish at worse third in the group and therefore have their place in China ensured.

"I'm very proud of all of my players," the play caller said. "They showed their heart and that they can do it despite all of the difficulties. We played with players that don't find much playing time in their clubs. They showed they have the power and ability to play big games."

Turkey head coach Ufuk Sarica and long-time national team leader Omer Onan have reason to be happy with the side bound for China.

Turkey joined a shortlist consisting of Angola, Argentina, New Zealand, Spain and the USA as the only teams to have qualified for all five editions of the World Cup from 2002 to 2019. 

Sarica was especially pleased that his team managed its way through the qualification campaign as a young team with limited experience.

"I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL OF MY PLAYERS. THEY SHOWED THEIR HEART AND THAT THEY CAN DO IT DESPITE ALL OF THE DIFFICULTIES. WE PLAYED WITH PLAYERS THAT DON'T FIND MUCH (PLAYING) TIME IN THEIR CLUBS. THEY SHOWED THEY HAVE THE POWER AND ABILITY TO PLAY BIG GAMES."- Sarica

"We're in a transition period. We have young players in our squad, they are gaining experience," he explained. "And while moving on from generations in the team we also achieve good results and (clinching) the ticket to China, which is good for us. I'm very hopeful for the future and our youngsters. We created a team for the next 12 years I think."

Scottie Wilbekin spoke of his excitement at helping Turkey reach the World Cup.

"I have never experienced something like this before. It is really thrilling to go to the World Cup. For me, it is an honor and I'm very happy to be a part of something big and important like this," he said.

Turkish veteran Semih Erden added: “We're very happy that we're guaranteed to go to China and (have) achieved our biggest goal.”

"I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. IT IS REALLY THRILLING TO GO TO THE WORLD CUP. FOR ME, IT IS AN HONOR AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG AND IMPORTANT LIKE THIS."- Wilbekin

Erden, however, was quick to turn his attention to the sixth and final window of the Qualifiers in February, when Turkey will host Slovenia and play in Spain.

"Our job is not done yet. We have done good so far, but now a bigger challenge starts for us," he warned. "The World Cup is very important for us, it's a big organization and we're aware of that. We have so many things to do as a team before the World Cup. We have a good team with valuable players. We will go to China with all of our players. We will prepare everyday with devotion for the World Cup. We have goals there too, we want to be successful."

"OUR JOB IS NOT DONE YET. WE HAVE DONE GOOD SO FAR, BUT NOW A BIGGER CHALLENGE STARTS FOR US. THE WORLD CUP IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US, IT'S A BIG ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE AWARE OF THAT.”- Erden

Wilbekin also stressed the importance of quickly re-focusing on the next window and then the World Cup itself.

"Now we need to think about the next games we will play in the Qualifiers even though we've qualified. I've never been to China before and I've never been to the World Cup. I'm excited that I'm going to be there with these guys," he said. "We will prepare in the best way we can for China and try to win as many games as we can."

FIBA