Unstoppable Turks barge into FIBA Worlds semi-finals
Turkey's historic run in the 2010 FIBA World Championships continues as they advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The hosts dominated Slovenia, 95-68, in their quarter-final showdown at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul to reach the medal round of the quadrennial event for the first time.
A strong first half was enough for Turkey to secure their seventh straight win in the tournament. The two squads traded baskets early in the game before Slovenia staged a mini-run to take a 10-6 lead. But it proved to be Slovenia's final taste of the lead as the Turks dictated the tempo from there. Back-to-back treys from veteran guards Omer Onan and Kerem Tunceri allowed the Turks to regain their lead. The hosts closed out the period with a 10-0 run behind the hot shooting of Onan, Ersan Ilyasova and Hedo Turkoglu. Turkoglu scored eight points in the period as Turkey enjoyed a 27-14 advantage.
The Turks remained steady from the three-point arc in the second period. This time it was Sinan Guler and Ender Arslan who waxed hot for the hosts. Turkey led by as many as 21 points in the quarter. Bogdan Tanjevic's wards finished the first half with a commanding 50-31 cushion. Ilyasova led all scorers after the first 20 minutes of play with 14 points.
Turkey remained aggressive after the break, unleashing a 6-1 run to extend their lead to 56-32. The Slovenians rallied back to come within 18 points but the Turks responded with a 10-0 run to take a 67-41 advantage in the closing minutes of the period. They entered the fourth quarter with a 71-43 advantage.
With the outcome of the game already secured, the Turks relaxed in the final period. Led by veterans Bostjan Nachbar and Primoz Brezec, the Slovenians played more aggressively in the first few minutes of the quarter. But their efforts were not enough to eliminate Turkey's huge lead.
Ilyasova led the Turks with 19 points and five rebounds. The Milwaukee Bucks forward also made two steals. Guler had 12 points while Onan, Turkoglu and Tunceri added 10 each. Big man Omer Asik contributed nine points and hauled down five rebounds. Nachbar and Sani Becirovic led the Slovenians with 16 points each. Brezec had 10 points and five rebounds while Uros Slokar also finished with 10 points.
Turkey will play Serbia on Saturday for a place in the finals. The Serbians downed defending champions Spain, 92-89, in the day's first game.
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