Turkey's Sanli: "It's always beautiful to play in our home with a major crowd"

ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Sertac Sanli isn't yet the celebrity that many of his basketball-playing compatriots past and present are, yet he's growing more famous by the week, and for good reason.

The 26-year-old, part of an exciting new generation of Turkish players, is coming into his own under Ufuk Sarica, his coach at both Besiktas and with the national team.

Sarica sees in Sanli a player that can help Turkey remain an elite basketball country in Europe. The 7ft (2.13m) center, likewise, sees the play caller as someone that can help him realize his full potential.

Sanli shone in November's World Cup European Qualifiers

"We have a coach who has proved his quality to everyone," Sanli said to FIBA.basketball. "He gives us confidence. He wants us to show our 100 percent best on the court and in return that motivates me to do more and go beyond expectations."

Sarica called Sanli into Turkey's national side last summer and he did well on his senior debut at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, helping the 12 Giant Men reach the Round of 16. He was good in Europe's top competition but proved to be outstanding in November's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers victories over Latvia in Bursa and then at Ukraine in Kiev.

"IT'S ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL TO PLAY IN OUR HOME WITH A MAJOR CROWD. IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE TO PLAY TO THE CROWD WITH THE NATIONAL JERSEY, TOO. THE FANS ALWAYS MAKE US FEEL THERE IS AN EXTRA PLAYER ON THE COURT FOR US" SanliSanli

He thrived in the uptempo, pressure defense that Sarica often employs in games. In the 85-73 win over Latvia, Sanli raised eyebrows with 15 points and 5 blocks.

"It's always beautiful to play in our home with a major crowd," Sanli said of that game that was played before a packed arena in Bursa. "It's a very different experience to play to the crowd with the national jersey, too. They (the fans) always make us feel there is an extra player on the court for us."

Against Ukraine, Sanli brought his A game once again and Turkey won, 67-60. He had 14 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.

"It was a dream of mine to play for the national team and wear the red and white jersey," he said. "It was meaningful for me to wear the jersey in Turkey (at the EuroBasket and World Cup Qualifiers). It increases my motivation to wear the jersey again. With this motivation, I'll be doing everything I can to do my best."

At the EuroBasket, Sanli went up against some very accomplished players in the national teams of Russia, Latvia, Serbia, Belgium, Great Britain and Spain.

"It is very important to play basketball on this level," he said. "Strong rivals and quality games are helping to improve my game, and also helping to change my view towards the game. To play against successful players at my position like Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol (both Spain), Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia) and Boban Marjanovic (Serbia) are exciting every time."

Sanli squared off against Serbia in Group D at EuroBasket 2017

Since the wins in the World Cup Qualifiers, Sanli has returned to Besiktas and helped the club put together an impressive season, one that has seen it finish top of Group D in the Basketball Champions League with 10 wins and 4 defeats.

After this month's World Cup Qualifiers at Sweden - a game that has been sold out for almost a month - and then at Latvia, Besiktas will attempt to improve on their 2017 Play-Offs campaign in the Basketball Champions League, which saw them fall to Pinar Karsiyaka in the Round of 16.

"We had an end that was unexpected last season," Sanli said. "Everything is a lesson for the next game for us, and we would like to study those lessons better and go to our targets strongly. Our intention is not to go home early but to have the cup in our museum."

"EVERY GAME, EVERY MINUTE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BE A BETTER PLAYER. THEREFORE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PLAY IN LEAGUES SUCH AS THE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. I THINK TO PLAY WITH GOOD TEAMS OF EUROPE IS SPEEDING UP MY DEVELOPMENT IN THE GAME" SanliSanli

Sanli is loving the opportunity to play games at the highest level. Turkey's league is one of the best in Europe and the Basketball Champions League is a great competition. That experience, and the games with Turkey, are helping him take important steps in the sport.

"Every game, every minute is an opportunity for me to be a better player," he said. "Therefore it is very important to play in leagues such as the Basketball Champions League. I think that to play with good teams of Europe is speeding up my development in the game.

"I am a player that looks for a challenge to improve his game all the time, to prove that I can play on this level."

FIBA