By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun and new Dallas Mavericks wing Tarik Biberovic are notable absences from Ergin Ataman’s 17-man preliminary roster for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.
Sengun, one of the key figures in Turkiye’s national team, was not included in the squad for the August games against Lithuania and Iceland, with no reason given for his absence. Biberovic, who recently joined the Dallas Mavericks, is also missing from the preliminary group.
Despite their absences, Ataman’s roster features several established NBA and EuroLeague players, including Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz, Adem Bona, Omer Yurtseven and Sertac Sanli. Naturalized guard Malachi Flynn is also part of the squad.
Turkiye enters the second qualifying round in excellent shape after winning all six games in the opening stage. The team will host Lithuania in Istanbul on August 28 before traveling to Iceland three days later.
Ataman will eventually have to trim the 17-man group before the official qualifying games.
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