By Mehmet Bahadır Akgün/ info@eurohoops.net
VITORIA-GASTEIZ – Ahead of the 2019 EuroLeague Final clash between Anadolu Efes and CSKA Moscow at Vitoria-Gasteiz, Ergin Ataman answered a couple of questions from Eurohoops – in Turkish – about the match and his players. The 53-year-old Turkish head coach can’t wait to be able to call Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin Europe’s Splash Brothers.
“We are so excited and happy to be in the Finals” he mentioned and explained: “We set a target and now we are on our last step. We’ve worked our way here, but we want to lift the trophy as well. Of course, we will face a tough opponent. Every team here presents its challenges, they’re the best in European basketball. We are excited, but must remain concentrated during the Final.”
On his two players: “Hopefully we will be able to call Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin the European Splash Brothers, but they must first win the EuroLeague. They carried us so far. Of course other players helped as well, especially Adrien Moerman during the entire season, Bryant Dunston in defense, Rodrigue Beaubois in clutch moments, Dogus Balbay, James Anderson and Krunoslav Simon. However, these two players were big in the Semifinal. If we win, they can easily be called Europe’s Splash Brothers.”