By Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
Moving on from Karsiyaka, Kenan Sipahi will continue with Bahcesehir Koleji in the BKT EuroCup.
Financial issues pushing several players away from Karsiyaka over recent days extended to the 29-year-old point guard. A depleted squad, guided by head coach Ufuk Sarica, fell to Fenerbahce Beko in Round 13 of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi on Sunday. Besides being forced down to 8-5 in the domestic league, the continental campaign resumes with a home game versus Promitheas Vikos Cola to start a best-of-three Play-In series on Wednesday.
The next challenge for Sipahi keeps him in the BSL but switches the continental journey from the BCL to the EuroCup. A veteran of seven appearances in the second-tier club continental competition of Euroleague Basketball, stemming from the 2015-16 season with Pinar Karsiyaka, he meets the team coached by Dejan Radonjic at 11-2 and on top of the Group A standings, two games clear of Dreamland Gran Canaria and ratiopharm Ulm with five fixtures remaining in the schedule of the Regular Season.
The experienced guard, a youth product of Tofas, also recorded 57 games played in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague between Fener and Karsiyaka, earlier in his career. Besiktas Icrypex in Turkiye, and Coosur Real Betis and Casademont Zaragoza in Spain are other former teams.
Following a successful international career at the junior level, representing Turkiye at the senior level included the 2017 EuroBasket. He was also capped in Qualifying Tournaments leading to the 2016 and 2024 Olympic Games.