Turkey's candidate squad announced for Serbia basketball games

 By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press 

 ANKARA, TURKEY — Head coach Ergin Ataman has unveiled Turkey's candidate squad for the upcoming FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup qualifying window against Serbia.

The "12 Giant Men" are set to face a critical home-and-away series in Group C. The announcement, released by the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF), confirmed the selection of several high-profile names alongside a significant new addition to the national team's ranks.

Naturalized star Malachi Flynn earns first call-up

The most striking detail in Ataman’s selection is the debut of Malachi Flynn. The Bahçeşehir Koleji standout, who recently acquired Turkish citizenship, has been called up for the first time. Flynn's inclusion is expected to provide a dynamic backcourt boost following his impressive performances in both the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League and European competitions.

Strategic depth from EuroLeague and domestic leagues

The squad features a blend of domestic talent and international star power. Panathinaikos duo Cedi Osman and Ömer Faruk Yurtseven are slated to join the team, bringing vital EuroLeague experience. Local giants Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes have also contributed heavily to the roster with key players like Tarık Biberovic and Ercan Osmani.

The full candidate squad is as follows:

• Anadolu Efes: Ercan Osmani, Erkan Yılmaz, Şehmus Hazer

• Bahçeşehir Koleji: Furkan Haltalı, Malachi Emmanuel Flynn

• Beşiktaş GAİN: Yiğit Arslan, Berk İbrahim Uğurlu, Sertaç Şanlı

• Fenerbahçe Beko: Onuralp Bitim, James Metecan Birsen, Tarık Biberovic

• Galatasaray MCT Technic: Can Korkmaz

• Glint Manisa Basket: Yiğit Onan

• TOFAŞ: Furkan Korkmaz, Yiğitcan Saybir

• Trabzonspor: İsmail Cem Ulusoy

• Panathinaikos: Cedi Osman, Ömer Faruk Yurtseven

Key match dates and venue information

The Turkish national team will first travel to Belgrade to face Serbia on Friday, February 27, at 21:00 TSİ. Following the away leg, the action will move to Istanbul. On Monday, March 2, the "12 Giant Men" will host the Serbian side at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center (Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi) at 21:00 TSİ. These games are pivotal for securing a favorable position in Group C of the FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers.

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