By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being sidelined for several weeks, Sertac Sanli rejoined team practices.
It remains unclear whether the 33-year-old Turkish center will return to action immediately, heading to Round 8 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season and a clash with French club LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in LDLC Arena on Friday evening.
Sanli has been dealing with an undisclosed injury and limited options in the paint for Lithuanian tactician Sarunas Jasikevicius. Through his absence, Fener drew two wins in three EuroLeague games and went 2-1 in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi.
Before being placed on the injury list, the native of Edirne, a former EuroLeague champion with Anadolu Efes, averaged 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.2 blocks per contest over four appearances in Europe’s premier club continental competition. Contributions include two features in the starting unit of Jasikevicius.
Making his way to two BSL games, he tallied 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest to start his 13th campaign in the top-flight division of Turkiye.
In contrast to Sanli getting ready to return to action, Scottie Wilbekin (right knee surgery) remains out alongside Yigit Hamza Mestoglu (right knee surgery).
For ASVEL, Edwin Jackson (hamstring) recently joined Paris Lee (ankle) on the sidelines. Two games outside the Play-In Showdown zone, the team coached by Pierric Poupet currently holds a 2-5 W-L tally, including two wins in three home games. A domestic record of 5-2 trails Betclic Elite leader Cholet by half a game.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net