By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the recent decision to cancel the remaining games of the Turkish League, Anadolu Efes expects a similar outcome for the 2019-20 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. The Turkish club’s GM, Alper Yilmaz explains why he does not believe action will resume in Europe’s premier club competition.
“The EuroLeague is doing its best to play. They cooperate with clubs. EuroLeague is a structure that consists of 10 country teams and even affects 15-16 countries,” he initially noted, “It takes very serious organization for 10 countries to start traveling at once, to recover in one country and to start games there. They are in serious work for this.”
His side topped the EuroLeague standings off its 24-4 W-L tally up to suspension of the season, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. A final decision by Euroleague Basketball whether to resume action is expected to be made by May 25.
“The picture in our country is getting better, but the number of patients getting sick every day in Russia is increasing. Spain is a bit worse than Italy, but we do not know when it will normalize,” added Yilmaz referring to the current situation in countries affecting EuroLeague, “The US appears to be the epicenter of Covid-19.”
Imported players traveling back to their teams abroad are the issue highlighted by the Efes GM.
“The foreign players of most of the teams will come from the USA. Therefore, the reason for the determination of 24 May is to provide people with travel and quarantine time after that date,” he said, “It seems like EuroLeague will not continue despite their superior efforts. If there is any risk for the 18 teams, the EuroLeague will not make this tournament anyway.”