Turkey too strong for GB

Published on Thursday 28 August 2008 22:51

GREAT Britain were defeated 82-58 by Turkey on the first day of the prestigious Efes Pilsen World Cup tournament in Konya – just six days before their first EuroBasket qualifying tie in Israel.

Pops Mensah-Bonsu, GB's main scoring option in the absence of Luol Deng, scored 14 points and Dzaflo Larkai and Jarret Hart added eight each. But the class of Turkey's Hidayet Turkoglu, who plays in the NBA for the Orlando Magic, was always a problem for the visitors to deal with.

With Scottish centre Kieron Achara ordered into their team camp by Italian side Fortitudo Bologna yesterday – a move GB officials are seeking to block – coach Chris Finch, already resigned to losing star player Deng because of insurance problems, chose not to bring back 7ft 1in centre Andrew Betts, whose return from a back injury may only come in Tel Aviv next week.

In an atmosphere that was partisan rather than overtly hostile, GB started well, withstanding Turkey's early onslaught, but the Turks proved too strong in the end.