NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen Women's Basketball Worldwide) - It may have already been decided which of Turkey's two naturalized options will be going to the FIBA EuroBasket Women Final Round.

But, I am hoping that is not the case and we can all look forward to a heavyweight fight between two players I admire very much in Lara Sanders and Quanitra Hollingsworth during the EuroCup Women Final.

Certainly few nations can boast this kind of choice which has been the case for Turkey almost throughout the last Olympic cycle as they switched between the pair. 

Even if both players have met during the course of the Turkish League and Cup games regularly, it seems like the pending EuroCup Women finale between Yakin Dogu Universitesi and Bellona Agu gives them both an unprecedented stage to do battle against each other.

It might be riveting to watch and a wonderful match-up not only in the context of determining where the precious silverware will end up, but who takes the ticket to Czech Republic in June.

Assuming the decision has not already been taken and is up for grabs, I have to say that it could not be more finely poised. Both players have so many upsides and are genuinely high quality players, that I find myself struggling to choose between them.

Rather than sitting on the fence, I am saying that it could be all to play for and in that scenario, the two-legged Final might be a decisive factor if one of them pulls out a big performance - or two!

Both players have represented their adopted nation at an Olympic Games and at EuroBasket Women Final Round, with Hollingsworth playing at London 2012 and in France 12 months later. Sanders played in Brazil last year and that came off the back of not only an outing at EuroBasket Women 2015, but also a spot at the FIBA Women’s World Championship a year earlier in Ankara and Istanbul.

As far as major tournaments go, three in a row for Sanders means the spot is seemingly hers and having led the way in both scoring and rebounding in Rio, she is possibly a lock. Certainly, her size and power is always a plus and she is probably more of a go-to player than her rival.

However, Hollingsworth has played in most of the Qualifiers for EuroBasket Women 2017 and I truly believe she is one of the most improved ‘bigs’ in the women’s game. She was competent in 2012 when she debuted and now I think she has become a colossus and every bit the player you always hoped she would become.

When she was at Fenerbahce and UMMC she was often the back-up player in post-rotations that were very deep. She produced highly efficient contributions off the bench for a lot of the time and sometimes started.

Now she is being allowed to shine in a Yakin Dogu Universitesi vest in a big way and she looks to be relishing it. She is just so aggressive with or without the ball, has remained efficient even with expanded minutes and has not sacrificed her strong ethic of working tirelessly for the team.

Interestingly, both Hollingsworth and Sanders have intense competition at their respective clubs and that is important to keep them on their toes. There is the likes of Yelena Leuchanka or Angelica Robinson at Yakin Dogu and Ann Wauters or Mirna Mazic at Bellona Agu.

I am convinced that this is the battle that will go a long way to deciding the destiny of EuroCup Women 2017 - with both clubs looking to win the title for the first time and make history.

I am also hoping that Turkey national team play-caller, Ekrem Memnun will be able to bring an open mind and will enjoy watching them going at it. Not least, because just about every other nation at EuroBasket Women would love to have this kind of potential dilemma.

Which brings me to my last point.

Turkey will rely hugely on whichever player they throw the vest to. Remember, they will be without the legendary Nevriye Yilmaz for the first time in memory and so whether it is Sanders or Hollingsworth, they will have such an important role in trying to get Turkey near to the podium in Prague. Or, at the very least, a place in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.