Basketball: Turkey announces 26-member World Cup squad

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Wednesday announced its squad for 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, slated to begin in China on Aug. 31.

Three NBA players, Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward Cedi Osman, Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Ersan Ilyasova and Philadelphia 76ers’ guard Furkan Korkmaz are included in the 26-member squad.

In addition to these three NBA players, Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv’s point guard Scottie Wilbekin also found place in the Turkish squad for the World Cup.

The World Cup will be held in China on Aug. 31-Sept.15.

Right now there are 26 Turkish players in the squad but this figure will be reduced to 12 just before the World Cup.

Turkey will face USA, Czech Republic and Japan in World Cup Group E.

Meanwhile, the World Cup trophy was exhibited in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The members of the squad are as followed:

Dogus Balbay, Sertac Sanli, Bugrahan Tuncer, Metecan Birsen, Yigitcan Saybir, Tolga Gecim (Anadolu Efes), Ridvan Oncel, Sehmus Hazer, Ragip Berke Atar (Banvit), Kartal Ozmizrak, Mert Akay (Darussafaka Tekfen), Ali Muhammed, Melih Mahmutoglu (Fenerbahce Beko), Goksenin Koksal, Ege Arar, Ayberk Olmaz (Galatasaray Doga Sigorta), Semih Erden (Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor), Berk Ibrahim Ugurlu, Muhsin Yasar, Yigit Arslan, Berkan Durmaz (TOFAS), Metin Turen (Turk Telekom), Cedi Osman (Cleveland Cavaliers), Ersan Ilyasova (Milwaukee Bucks), Furkan Korkmaz (Philadelphia 76ers), Scottie Wilbekin (Maccabi Tel Aviv).