HELSINKI (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Basketball fans are going to experience déjà vu in Finland on July 2 when the Susijengi host Iceland in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.

Just as was the case at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 when 12,037 fans packed the Hartwall Arena to watch the sides square off in a Group A clash, a huge crowd is assured to watch a vital Qualifier between same two teams with 9,000 tickets already sold in advance.

Fans can buy the remaining tickets here.

"The tickets pre-sale is a concrete example of how the Finnish basketball phenomenon is here for good. We have managed to capture the hearts of Finns and build something that lasts," Finnish Basketball Association Secretary General Ari Olavi Tammivaara said to FIBA.basketball.

Finnish basketball began taking Europe by storm when the country played at FIBA EuroBasket 2011, its first appearance at the sport's flagship event on the old continent in 16 years.

After qualifying for FIBA EuroBasket 2013 and gunning down hosts Slovenia in their last game, the Susijengi took part in the following year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain where more than 10,000 fans traveled from Finland to pack the arena in Bilbao and watch their Group Phase games.

The fans will once again flock to the Hartwall Arena to see Finland face Iceland

Supporters went in big numbers again to see them play at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 in France while last year, they had the luxury of staying at home and seeing their team play in Helsinki.

Among the major talking points of the tournament was Lauri Markkanen, who averaged a team-high 19.5 points.

The 7ft (2.13m) forward used the tournament as a springboard to have a big NBA rookie season with the Chicago Bulls. He celebrated his 22nd birthday on Tuesday by being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Markkanen, Petteri Koponen and Sasu Salin, the team's leading trio from last summer's EuroBasket, are set to play in the Qualifiers for the first time in the third window. The Finns will also play at the Czech Republic on June 29.

They will bolster a side that has received terrific performances from Jamar Wilson, Mikko Koivisto and Sean Huff. Huff, Wilson, Koivisto, Carl Lindbom, Alexander Madsen and Roope Ahonen have played in all four games of the Qualifiers so far.

The Finnish team has also received big contributions from less heralded players like Juho Nenonen, a key man in their 75-70 home triumph of Bulgaria on February 25.

Finland (2-2) are third in Group F after the Czech Republic (3-1) and Iceland (2-2) while Bulgaria (1-3) are fourth.

FIBA