By Giorgos Orfanakis/ info@eurohoops.net
This time, however, the conditions are ideal for Fenerbahce. Zeljko Obradovic has proven that he knows better than anyone how to lead a team to glory, the roster has acquired the ideal chemistry, the Turkish fans are expected to create a “hot” atmosphere and their psychology is soaring after their great qualification with a sweep against Panathinaikos.
On top of all of the above, add the fact that, for two years now, Fenerbahce has been reaching the source but not drinking any water, something that might’ve caused frustration but that filled the roster with the necessary experience that can now bring the coveted success.
In fact, if one considers that in 2015 Zeljko Obradovic and his players were knocked out in the semifinal and that in 2016 they got a breath away from winning the trophy, then one understands the progress that has been made and that they have every right to be optimistic about getting to the top.
Real Madrid – Fenerbahce 96-87 (May 15, 2015)
The dream of winning a European trophy in the Final Four in Madrid (2015) faded early on as Fener faced the hosts, Real, in the second semifinal and failed to be competitive. Actually, the catastrophic second quarter and its 35-14 score gave the subsequent champions a double-digit lead as early as the half-time break (55-35) and they never looked back.
In any case, in that particular Final Four, Fener got their baptism of fire and even if they finished in fourth place, they made one of the necessary steps on the road to success. The Turkish fans deserve a special mention as they travelled to Spain, proving once more the huge hunger there is in the team for their first European trophy.