ORLANDO (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Ersan Ilyasova has been playing in big events for Turkey since 2006, when he made a splash at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Japan in his senior national team debut.

The one he is going to take part in this summer, the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila could end up being the most important of all. Winning the six-team competition would open the door to the Rio de Janeiro Games. It would mark the first appearance at an Olympics for the 2.05m forward.

I have been part of the national team for so long, playing in different competitions and I'd like to compete in the Olympics. When you are a basketball player you want to participate in international competitions and live the experience of going to the Olympics. - Ilyasova

Turkey will have as good a chance as any team to win the OQT. They have shown their worth at important tournaments over the years, most notably in 2010 when Ilyasova averaged 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds on the team that reached the Final of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Istanbul.

Four years later, when Ilyasova was absent, Turkey gave the United States their most uncomfortable game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Bilbao. The Americans found themselves in a real dogfight in the Group Phase game and trailed 40-35 at half-time but seized the upper hand in the third quarter and won, 98-77. Turkey nevertheless pulled off a memorable come-from-behind victory over Australia in the Round of 16 and advanced to the Quarter-Finals.

At EuroBasket 2015, Ilyasova averaged a team-high 15.2 points per game. He was terrific from the start, a thrilling win over Italy in which he poured in 17 points and had a key three-point play with 45 seconds remaining. 

Turkey made it to the Round of 16 but then lost to one of the competition's favorites, hosts France.

When you look at every tournament we have played so far, we always have a chance. It doesn’t matter who we have on the team but the thing is about the way we play. - Ilysasova

"When you look at the last EuroBasket, everybody was in good shape but unfortunately, we lost some games that took us to the fourth place of the group and that's why we ended up playing against France," Ilyasova said to FIBA.com. "We need to improve and step up our game during the tournament, to do what Spain has been doing - start slowly than step up as the competition goes on."

Spain did not look like world beaters at the EuroBasket but grew in self-belief as the tournament wore on and saw their chemistry improve game-by-game. It also helped that Spain had one of the greatest international basketball players of all time, Pau Gasol, leading the way.

Ilyasova (TUR) and the 12 Giant Men faced Spain at EuroBasket 2015

The OQT in Manila will be held from 5-10 July. In order to qualify for Rio 2016 - and return to the Olympics for the first time since 1952 - the Turks have to face Senegal and Canada in Group A and finish in the top two and then win a Semi-Final against a team from a Group B which includes France, New Zealand and the Philippines. If they win that game, they must then beat the other Semi-Final winner.

It's going to be a new experience because Turkey did not feature at the last two OQTs in Athens (2008) and Caracas (2012).

"We have never been part of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament before, and things are going to be different this year, as the tournament will come fast after the end of the season," Ilyasova said. "The draw was pretty fair for everybody and Canada is a very competitive team in our group. France is also very solid."

It's going to be a tough challenge and we need to come with a strong mentality, with the goal of being part of the next Olympics. For us, being part of the Olympics would be history. - Ilyasova

Ilyasova, meanwhile, is dealing with a big change. The Detroit Pistons recently traded him to the Orlando Magic.

"It was kind of a surprise, but you know, it is what it is," Ilyasova said. "It's part of our job. It was unexpected but I need to make the best of the situation. It’s hard when you come during the middle of the season to a new team. You have to learn a lot of things, make some adjustments as the team is kind of settled since the beginning of the season."

Ilyasova is hoping he can help Orlando go on a winning streak and make into the top eight of the Eastern Conference to reach the playoffs. They suffered a 121-108 defeat at Dallas on Tuesday night, a game in which Ilyasova came off the bench and had 22 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.

FIBA