ISTANBUL (FIBA U18 European Championship 2018) - Mert Akay is confident Turkey will reach the podium at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2018. The main reason is that he believes his team will play like a family.

Akay was one of two players, along with Eray Akyuz on Turkey's U18 team last year who were a year younger and that experience will help the playmaker be a leader on the team in Latvia.

"We saw how to play at the level," said Akay, who averaged 4.6 points, 5.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds as Turkey finished fourth. "We have the experience of playing in the Semi-Finals but losing. It was a great experience for us." 

But it's not something that Akay wants to repeat - as he hopes to win at that stage this time around. "Our goal of course is the gold medal. We have to finish first or second in the group to then match up with the third or fourth placed team in the other group. Then it's just game by game," said the 6ft 3in (1.90m) point guard.

That might be easier said than done though, as Turkey will square off against France, Germany and Russia in Group B.

"WE SAW HOW TO PLAY AT THE LEVEL. WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF PLAYING IN THE SEMI-FINALS BUT LOSING. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR US."Akay

"We are not lucky to be in this group. They are tough teams so we have to play tough to win these games," the Beyoglu-native said.

While Akay would love to take home a medal, the absolute minimum objective is to finish in the top five to secure a spot in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019, especially after Turkey missed the last edition in Egypt in 2017. The Turks did however grab third place at the 2015 U19 World Cup with the group including Berk Ugurlu, Tolga Gecim, Ege Arar and Okben Ulubay.Turkey's famously successful golden generation - here at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2015.

"That was the golden generation. They were called the golden generation," said Akay of the group that won the titles at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2013 and two FIBA European Championships and third place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2015 and two FIBA U20 European Championships. "Our goal is to win a medal in a World Cup too."

If the Turks ever are feeling lowly on the quest in Latvia, they would be well served to follow their even-keeled leader Akay.

"My mother always says always be positive, don't be pessimistic. Always be an optimist. Always look for good things," he says.

It's a bit of that family feeling that Akay believes Turkey will have in Latvia. When asked to say why the Turks will finish on the U18 podium, he answered: "Because we're not going to be just a team but a family."

FIBA