Turkey build momentum

ISTANBUL (2016 Rio Olympics) - The pressure will not be as intense for Turkey in several months as it was in 2012, when they play at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) and attempt to claim one of the five spots for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

The country will not be hosting the WOQT, as it did four years ago in Ankara.

The team's 74-44 defeat to Australia in the Third-Place Game at the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship in Istanbul also took some of the air out of the balloon for Turkey. The national side has, however, given strong indications this year that it has a very good chance of making it to Brazil.

At EuroBasket Women 2015, it played just well enough to clinch a spot in the 12-team WOQT, a berth it secured with a thrilling, nerve-jangling win over Russia in the battle for fifth place in Budapest. Youngster Olcay Cakir hit a game-tying three-pointer in the last minute and then Isil Alben scored on a game-winning drive just seconds from the end.

Though Ekrem Memnun decided not to continue as head coach after the event so he could focus on Galatasaray's women's team, the installation of his assistant, Aziz Akkaya, as Memnun's replacement has gone well. Akkaya steered Turkey to a couple of confidence-boosting victories last month over Israel and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the start of their EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifying campaign.

The triumphs were crucial. Not only did Turkey take giant steps towards the continental tournament, they did so in convincing fashion. 

Remember what Akkaya had said a couple of weeks before those two games?

Our overall goal is to advance out of the group [in the EuroBasket Women 2017 Qualifiers], arrive at the [FIBA Women's] Olympic Qualifying Tournament ready and find the right 12 people. We'll continue to work for this," he pointed out. - Akkaya

He did not have Turkish linchpins Nevriye Yilmaz or Birsel Vardarli Demirmen in his squad yet it still won convincingly. Lara Sanders was as consistent and powerful as she had been at the FIBA Women's World Championship and the EuroBasket Women, and Alben shone in her one performance, the 72-53 victory over Israel.

Others stood out too.

Bahar Caglar, 27, went into the qualifying games needing to assert herself and she did with 16 points in the win over Israel and 12 in the 79-50 rout of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 1.88m power forward was a model of efficiency, hitting eight of her 14 shots (57.1 percent) in the first game and six of seven (85.7 percent) in the second.

Cakir also had two impressive showings, pouring in 17 points against the Israelis and 13 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 22-year-old point guard is one of the most dynamic players in Turkey and could be in Europe, too. She played with freedom and made a combined 12 of 14 shots from the floor in the two games. Her 5-of-5 three-point shooting display against Israel was the best shooting performance of her career.

Others played well, leaving Turkish women's basketball in an upbeat mood at the end of 2014.

We have a new generation. We're slowly trying to rejuvenate the team. Because there is the European Championship and Olympic qualifiers in front of us, we are preparing them. All of our players made ​​significant contributions. I congratulate all the players, especially the young ones who are gradually adapting to the team and will continue to do so in the future. - Akkaya

Turkey's women drew praise from the president of the federation, Harun Erdenay, a former guard with the men's national team.

Writing in his end-of-year newsletter, Erdenay said: "Last month we got our first taste of in-season qualification windows for EuroBasket Women 2017. Our Senior Women's National Team did not disappoint, as strong performances from veterans and new talents alike led to wins over Israel and Bosnia and Herzegovina."

Erdenay was happy that the fans in Ankara had been able to see the excitement that exists in the team, too. Nearly 6,000 supporters turned out to watch Turkey beat Israel.

"In-season national team games will create new opportunities for our sport, and we at TBF are excited to take advantage of those opportunities in the years ahead," he said.

As for Yilmaz and Vardarli, they are almost certain to return for the WOQT.

Turkey are unlikely to announce their preliminary squad for the WOQT until after their next couple of EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifying games against Romania (20 February) and at Israel (24 February). Those two games will provide additional opportunities for veteran Caglar, Cakir and others to build confidence.

They will also raise expectations, at least on the inside.

FIBA