By Giorgos Orfanakis/info@eurohoops.net
Karsiyaka travelled to Athens with high ambitions but with their commanding appearance, Panathinaikos didn’t allow them to claim a positive result. Eurohoops met with Colton Iverson in OAKA’s locker rooms and spoke with him about the new leaf in his career, the Spanish and Turkish leagues, coach Sarica and the team’s big ambitions.
In the summer you decided to turn a new page in your career, leaving Spain and Laboral for Turkey and Karsiyaka. Could you compare the two leagues?
“The Spanish league has a lot of quality. The top 8 teams each year are especially competitive but the same thing happens in Turkey as well. There are many good players who have transferred to Turkey from Spain and vice versa, and I believe that we’re talking about two championships of a very high level. Personally, this is my second season in the TBL and what I realized from my time in the ACB is that we’re dealing with a very tough league. Both are represented by many teams in the Euroleague and I think that it’s difficult to single out one of the two. They’re on the same level.”
You are now playing for a new club with a strong American element. Has that helped you adapt more easily?
“It was really, very easy to adapt. We found chemistry very quickly and day-by-day we’re improving and getting to know each other. They’re all really good guys and a really good coach who knows how to make a team out of us, so I think that we will keep getting better and better.”
Regarding coach Sarica, could you tell us what he’s like as a coach, what his style is like?
“He’s a coach who understands his players totally. He likes to encourage us, to see us have confidence and take on plays. He gets 100% out of you and this helps create a very good team. He wants my teammates and I to go out there and play basketball without thinking too hard about it. As for defense, he likes us being aggressive and steal balls.”
You are the Turkish champions and you’re playing in the Euroleague for the first time. What are the goals for this season?
“The repeat is definitely the main goal. At the same time we would like to advance in the Euroleague as well. We want to qualify in the Top 16, to be competitive and fight for a spot in the quarterfinals. But we’ll do this in tandem with our commitments in Turkey.”
Karsiyaka is a team with faithful fans. They travelled to Athens and they’re always there. Is that an extra motivation?
“Definitely! I believe we have some of the best fans in the whole of Europe. Every home game is sold out, while they follow us in most of our away games as well. We’re thrilled with the people and they push us to give everything we have, every time.”
You’re in a new environment. From what little you’ve seen, what do you think of the city of Izmir?
“I like the city a lot. The whole society revolves around the team, they constantly cheer you on in every game, every day. We go to the mall for a stroll and the people who see us shout out the name of the team. I enjoy this support.”