By Mehmet Bahadır Akgün / info@eurohoops.net
VITORIA-GASTEIZ– Fenerbahce Beko forward Gigi Datome will be cheering for his Italian national team teammate and friend Daniel Hackett to lift the trophy in the EuroLeague Final Sunday (19/5).
“As a fan, I’m rooting for CSKA Moscow because of Daniel Hackett,” Datome told Eurohoops. “He’s a very good friend of mine and I hope he can win the EuroLeague.”
Fenerbahce was beaten by fellow Turkish side Anadolu Efes in the semifinal and had to settle for the third-place game vs. Real Madrid.
“The [semifinal] result is disappointing because we’ve been very good in the season,” Datome said. “We went to the Final Four against some injuries. We haven’t been able to prepare but this can’t be an excuse or an alibi. Efes was better than us and this is why they deserved to reach the Final.”
Datome had to watch from the sidelines due to a right calf muscle tear.
“Terrible,” said Datome when asked how he was feeling being unable to help.