Trouncing China, Turkey makes round two in World Basketball Championship

Turkey yesterday qualified for the second round in the World Basketball Championship by roundly defeating China, 87-40. The game took place at Ankara's newly constructed sports hall, Ankara Arena, before a jam-packed crowd of Turkish and foreign basketball lovers. Turkish player Oguz Savas was the game's top scorer with 20 goals. The victory was Turkey's fifth in a row in Group C, making it the group leader. In the second round, Turkey will take on its powerful rival France. Speaking to reporters after the victory, Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) head Turgay Demirel said that France would be a tough nut to crack, but that ultimately Turkey would prevail. In related news, all the championship's quarter-, semi- and final games hosted by Turkey are sold out. Foreign spectators have been snapping up record numbers of seats. During the last championship hosted by Japan, only 9 percent of the tickets were bought by foreign spectators, compared to a whopping 27 percent in Turkey. Total ticket revenues are expected to hit €8 million.