Indianapolis, USA, September 4 (AP) - Yugoslavia still has a chance to defend its World
Championships title.
Predrag "Peja" Stojakovic and Milan Gurovic scored 16 points
apiece as Yugoslavia advanced to the medal round
with a 110-78 victory Wednesday over Turkey.
The top four in each six-team group advance to the
medal round. Yugoslavia, a winner of a record four
world titles, joins Spain, Brazil and Puerto Rico in
Group E.
Yugoslavia ran wild with its fast break, leading to 60
points in the paint and 60- percent shooting. Six
players scored in double figures.
Yugoslavia won in 1998 when a lockout forced the
U.S. to use collegians. With the Americans using
NBA players, that might be a lofty goal this time. The
Yugoslavs realize that.
"If we keep playing like this, we can hope to win one
of the medals," said Igor Rakocevic, who had 10
points.
Yugoslavia (4-2) ended the first half with a 9-0 run,
then blew the game open in the third quarter, taking a 20-point lead on a steal
and layup by Milos Vujanic. Yugoslavia built its lead to 27 in the third, leaving
Turkey to wonder went wrong.
"We came here for a better position," said Turkey's coach, Aydin Ors. "The first
two losses hurt us. Injuries during practice hurt us. We learned a lot. It was
important for Turkish basketball to go through this."
Turkey was clearly frustrated by the end. Mehmet Okur threw his hands in the
air in frustration after several Yugoslav baskets and the Turks bolted off the
court when the game ended.
Okur led Turkey (2-4) with 21 points, and Hidayet Turkoglu added 20. Mirsad
Turkcan had 12 points and 11 assists.
"I don't think we played good as team," said Turkoglu, of the Sacramento
Kings. "Sometimes you have to play together and not by yourself and we didn't
always do that. I'm not sure."
