By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Marko Guduric inked his best season performance against Partizan scoring 25 points and lifting Fenerbahce to the 97-94 victory. After the game, he stated he is not returning to Turkey, as the shooting guard wants to play for Serbia in the last qualifying game for the World Cup on Monday.
“I’m staying in Belgrade, I’m not returning with the team to Istanbul. I’m waiting to see what will happen against Greece, so we’ll see in agreement with the coach, and the coaching staff if I will play on Monday. I’m here. I said I wanted to play and the coach told me I could stay. But we all hope that we will win against Greece and that there will be no need to play that game under pressure”, Marko Guduric said.
The guard of the Turkish team scored 25 points against Partizan, and dished out seven assists, without a single turnover, all for a 35 PIR and an early 25th-round MVP contender. “Great feeling, first official game after a long time, I didn’t know what to expect because we didn’t play, we tried to stay fit. We did a great job, shared the ball, and were focused. I feel good, I celebrated at home against a great team who has been playing very well lately, in front of great fans and atmosphere. A great victory”, he commented on his and his team’s performance.
“I knew what was waiting for me. Rivalry is the most beautiful thing in sports, everyone lives for playing in front of a full house. It was really nice, even nicer that we won and that it was Partizan. Especially since they beat us there, where we controlled the game and they turned it around”, he went on saying.
This was Fenerbahce’s first match after the fifth of February, due to the devastating earthquake in Turkey that led to the suspension of all sporting events. “For a week, no one talked about basketball, as we all know, many people died, there were also cases in the families of my former teammates, who suffered and it was not easy to see that. I pray for everyone there, but life must go on further”, he added.
Fenerbahce inked two straight victories in the Euroleague, climbed to the fourth position, and is playing much better than it was in the previous period. After all, just like Marko Guduric, who needed time to catch the rhythm.
“While playing for the national team, I injured my quadriceps, it bothered me a little during the summer. I entered the season, ok, I feel good and I really have confidence. I am entering the age where I feel good, I like Istanbul and the coach and his system. It’s a new team, with a lot of new players and we need time. For the last 10-15 years, the champions of the Euroleague have been teams that have been together for years, everyone knows that. And Fener should strive for that, to keep the roster and the coach, and to reach such a result in a year, two or three. Maybe this one too, you never know”, the Serbian basketball player concluded following the win.