TUR – Tunçeri likes Turkey’s chances

ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Turkey guard Kerem Tunçeri believes the host nation of this summer’s FIBA World Championship stands a great chance of going deep into the tournament thanks to a favourable draw and playing in front of partisan crowds.

“We can say that we are lucky if we compare our group with the others,” said the Efes Pilsen playmaker who has helped reigning Beko Basketball League champions Efes Pilsen to a 27-3 record this season that guarantees them home court advantage throughout the playoffs, which start on Thursday.

Turkey will face China, Greece, the Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico and Russia in Ankara’s Group C.

Tunçeri pointed out that the team will have specific targets in mind heading into the tournament.

“Our first goal is to be in the final round. If we succeed in getting there, we will not face the USA in the next round and we might avoid Spain. We aim to go all the way to the top. But it is important to consider each game separately,” he warned.

And the 31-year-old is counting on the home court advantage to play a vital part in the team’s success. After all, they did claim a silver medal as hosts of FIBA’s 2001 European Championship.

“The atmosphere at the 2001 European Championship in Ankara was amazing,” he recalled. “We won some very tough games. We would like to use the advantage of playing at home and achieve great success in this championship as well.

“Our success will be very important for Turkish basketball.”

The Turks have had mixed results in recent international competitions and Tunçeri has received more than his fair share of blame for the inconsistency. However, he has not allowed that to affect him or his play.

“When things go wrong on the court, either the coaches or the point guards are going to get criticized,” he explained. “Constantly being criticised can decrease your motivation but I am used to all the negative comments. You do the best that you can on the court.”

Turkoglu not used to new team
Tunçeri also shared his thoughts on the play of his fellow countrymen who wave the Turkish flag in the NBA.

“Ersan (Ilyasova) has really made us proud with the way he has played in the last two to three years,” he said. “There is no need to talk about Hidayet (Hedo Turkoglu) and Memo (Mehmet Okur).

“Mehmet is one of the best players in the NBA at his position. I hope he will get well soon and can play in the World Championship. Hidayet could not get into his new team (Toronto Raptors). All are really good players and I think they will be in the place that they aimed to be.”

FIBA