Photo: FIBA

Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun and new Dallas Mavericks wing Tarik Biberovic have been left off Turkiye’s preliminary roster for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.

Head coach Ergin Ataman named a 17-man squad for August’s games against Lithuania and Iceland, but Sengun was not included despite being one of Turkiye’s most important players. No explanation was provided for his absence.

Biberovic, who recently joined the Mavericks, is also missing from the preliminary roster.

Even without Sengun and Biberovic, Turkiye will have several players with NBA and EuroLeague experience.

Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz, Adem Bona, Omer Yurtseven and Sertac Sanli were all selected, while naturalized guard Malachi Flynn is also part of the group.

Turkiye enters the second qualifying round after going unbeaten in its first six games. Ataman’s team will host Lithuania in Istanbul on August 28 before traveling to face Iceland three days later.

Ataman will reduce the 17-man roster before the two World Cup qualifying games.

Sengun and Biberovic out of Turkiye’s World Cup Qualifying squad#FIBAWC #StepItUphttps://t.co/xs4rWAR2yz