Turkey - "12 Giant Men" live up to their name

From www.todayszaman.com
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The men's Turkish basketball team, nicknamed the "12 Giant Men," subdued France 80-78 on Saturday on the road for their sixth win in as many EuroBasket 2009 qualifying games.

Actually, the Turks had already qualified for EuroBasket 2009 proper in Poland next year, and only had pride and prestige to play for. Yet the undefeated "12 Giant Men" downed Les Bleus in Limoges to leave the 6,000-strong French crowd frustrated, to say the least, as their country missed out of next year’s elite championship.

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker was the only French player to score in the double figures, with 37 points, and it wasn't enough, as Kerem Tunçeri hit the biggest shots for Turkey. He nailed one three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to cut France's lead to 58-57 and after Stephen Brun missed with the score knotted at 60-60, Tunçeri buried another three to put his team in front for good.

France fouled him and the guard made both free throws with five seconds left and Turkey elected to foul Parker instead of letting the French attempt a potential game-tying three.

Parker missed both shots at the stripe, however, and Diawara got the offensive board and drew a foul from Tunçeri. He made the first but missed the second and Turkey got the rebound to seal the 80-78 win.

With the qualifying round of EuroBasket 2009 now complete, Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia and Great Britain have secured spots in the final round in Poland as the winners of their groups. Poland qualified automatically as the host nation.

Latvia, Israel and Bulgaria also advanced to the final round of the event as the three best second-place teams.