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.
Fenerbahce – CSKA Moscow 96-101 (May 13, 2016)
Is there a worse feeling than having the title in your hands and then taken away you? Zeljko Obradovic and his players got a breath away from an historic first win in the Final Four in Berlin but CSKA and Victor Khryapa had something to say about that.
To get to that point, of course, Fenerbahce first had to overcome the obstacle of Baskonia and, in fact, it was much harder than what the final score of 88-77 makes it seem as this particular game was decided in overtime (72-72 in regular time).
The big final had an equally dramatic finale, with CSKA once again coming close to… suicide and being saved thanks to an offensive rebound and a basket by Victor Khryapa with just 1.9’’ on the clock.
When the two teams went to the locker room with the score at 50-30, not a lot of people believed Fener could find the mental reserves to play for the trophy to the end. And yet! The extended counterattack in the second half initially closed the gap to a 14-point deficit (55-69) by the hand of Udoh and then to a 3-point deficit (76-79) thanks to a three-pointer by Dixon. The first lead came after Sloukas made two free throws with 21’’ on the clock but a missed rebound that amounted to a whole title, gave CSKA the chance to send the game to overtime. There, Fener couldn’t hold, with the MVP De Colo and the excellent Hines and Teodosic giving the Russians the win with 101-96.
For the second season in a row, Fenerbahce left the Final Four with the feeling of disappointment prevailing. Nevertheless, the players who – to a great extent – make up the current roster, now have the necessary experience to deal with any situation that comes up and, at last, to celebrate.