TUR - Ilyasova wants honours at FIBA World Champs

ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Eryan Ilyasova wants to win a medal when Turkey host the FIBA World Championship this summer.

Playing host will make this an extra special tournament for Turkey, but that is not enough for Ilyasova, who wants to mark the occasion by finishing in the top three for the home fans.

"The 2010 FIBA World Championship is being held in our country and it is a very happy time," he said. "The Turkish nation and Turkish basketball know how important this is.

"Everyone is aware of the situation ad we want to show our best game. We are putting 100% into every session in camp. Our goal in this event at home has to be to win a medal."

Ilyasova is coming off his first season since returning to the NBA and the Milwaukee Bucks, having averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
This will be his second FIBA World Championship after he played in Japan in 2006, and he feels better for knowing what to expect.

"I have lived the experience," he said. "There are no easy teams to play in a tournament like this. We will have to play good basketball and then we can get to the championship games. If we show the same intensity in our games we will demonstrate our ability."

No matter how far Turkey go, they are guaranteed a game against old rivals Greece, having been drawn against them in Group C along with China, Cote d'Ivoire, Russia and Puerto Rico.

"We played Greece in the EuroBasket in Poland, and we lost narrowly (76-74)," he said. "This time, on our own court, with our own fans, we will play against them again.

"We will show our best basketball against Greece."

FIBA