Turkey qualify for 2019 World Cup in China

ISTANBUL

Turkey is entitled for 2019 World Cup in China following the results Dec. 2 cin the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.

Despite the loss to Montenegro 71-66 in an away match on Dec. 2, Turkey guaranteed to finish the Group I in the third place at worse as it had tiebreakers over Montenegro, Latvia and Ukraine.

Turkey became the seventh team from Europe to qualify for next year’s World Cup, joining Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania and Spain.

Following the weekend’S result, Turkey is at second place in Group I with 7 wins and 3 losses after Spain that recorded 8 wins and 2 losses.

From Europe, the three highest-placed teams - out of total of twelve teams - from each group will qualify for the FIBA Basketball 2019 World Cup to be held on Aug. 31-Sept. 15 in China.

Turkey hosted the 2010 FIBA World Championship and won a silver medal after losing to the U.S. 64-81 in the final.

Turkey beat Slovenia 95-68 in the quarter-final and beat Serbia 83-82 in the semi-final to rank second in the Championship.

In 2001, Turkey played against Yugoslavia in the FIBA European Championship Final.

It claimed the second place after defeated by Yugoslavia 69-78 in Istanbul.

Turkey beat Croatia 87-85 in the quarter-final and defeated Germany 79-78 in the semi-final match.

Separately, Turkey bagged two gold, one silver and three bronze medals in the Mediterranean Games.

Currently, Turkey stands 17th in the FIBA World Rankings.