By Mehmet Bahadır Akgün / info@eurohoops.net
Vitoria-Gasteiz– Former EuroLeague champion and Turkish basketball great Ibrahim Kutluay has no second thoughts on which team he’ll support in the Final Four.
“I’m a Fenerbahce fan. I started playing basketball there. I want Fenerbahce to win,” Kutluay told Eurohoops.”However, considering Fenerbahce’s situation with injuries, it keeps them from being the favourite.”
Fenerbahce will be definitely missing Gigi Datome and Joffrey Lauvergne and it’s still unknown if Jan Vesely and Nikola Kalinic will be good to go for Friday’s semifinal. The “Zeljko Obradovic impact” though will be there and it might make a difference for Fener.
“Still, I trust and believe in Obradovic. I think he can do his magic even under these circumstances. And that’s why he is the source of hope for Fener fans. I believe the players will fight until the last minute. But, as I said, you don’t have to be champion in every Final Four you participate. It is important to be consistent.”
Kutluay was coached by Obradovic during his stint with Panathinaikos. He has a firsthand experience of what he can do and this is why he has such faith in him.
“Coaches are so important in basketball, even though it’s players who play on the court,” Kutluay said. “I played for Obradovic for three years in Greece in Panathinaikos. I learnt so many things from him. He has a pretty peculiar character. During those years, we also had a European championship. His relations with players are so particular. He focuses on the right points even though he seems mad along the bench. He gains players’ respect with the way he coaches righteously even if he shouts from time to time. Most of the coaches tend to talk about past failures or moves during time-outs and half-times, while Obradovic tells them what to do for the following minutes.
“Ergin Ataman is one of the most important coaches having grown up in Turkey. He carried his team to a special point,” Kutluay added.
For the first time in history, Turkey will be represented by two teams in a Final Four. Something quite exciting for the country’s basketball scene.
“It’s a pride and joy for us to be here with two Turkish teams, and having one team in the final. Fenerbahce has been to last four final fours. Anadolu Efes is here after a long while. Success in sports is deriving from consistency. It’s important to be here every year and not being here for one year and not the other one.
Of course the championship is important but more important thing is to be here after that long marathon. Because there may be some injuries or unlucky issues. Anything can happen in a single game but considering the long road they have taken, I think Fenerbahce is the most consistent team of recent years. Anadolu Efes has made a serious investment and deserved to be here with the way they played recently. Hopefully it will be a good game.”
Eurohoops also asked Kutluay about the financial problems that some Turkish clubs have been facing.
“Of course because of the economic situation in Turkey several teams have been facing payment issues. There are serious talks about the budgets in Turkish basketball for the upcoming periods, as well as in football. I don’t know what may happen but I hope the success in basketball, which is not present in football, remains also in the future.”