By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League round of 16 is starting on Tuesday night with two games while the rest will be played on Wednesday (take a look at the preview).
One of the matchups is the clash between medi Bayreuth and Besiktas Sompo Japan. Ufuk Sarica is confident his team will be up to the task:
“I think we’re the favorite to pass the Round of 16. I believe we’ll go to the Final Four in the Basketball Champions League. We have the required team play and the power. At that time, the most important thing will be that we’re healthy and have a complete team. If we are, I believe the way will be clear,” Sarica said for the official website of the Basketball Champions League.
Besiktas has a great roster this season with quality guards Ryan Boatright, Josh Adams, Kenan Sipahi, DJ Strawberry. Perhaps the biggest threat is Jon Diebler, whose 59.7 percent (40 of 67) from 3-point range success rate ranked first overall in the competition. But despite that, the coach is concerned and emphasizes the importance of being healthy:
“The health of our players is important to us at this point. We don’t have an endless roster nor endless opportunities. With a modest budget and roster, we’re trying to do our best. I hope our team will be in good health and that we move on to bigger goals.”
He also compared this with the last season and commented on their success so far and the goals:
“In the second campaign of the Basketball Champions League, we have repeated the same success as being the leader in the group phase. This year, we might have increased the expectations of people after last year. (But) It is a fact that we had a very troubled period this year.
From the beginning of the season, we’ve not been able to become a team with our full roster and we’ve had a lot of flux. The injured players healed, new players came, some players went. These are the factors that affect the stability of the team. Despite this, we’re in a good position today both in the Turkish League and in Basketball Champions League as well.
This situation makes us happy for now, but it’s not enough for us. Our first goal this year is to pass the Round of 16 and to go to the Final Four. Later, maybe even if possible, to take the Final Four to Istanbul.”