By Vaggelis Patas/ info@eurohoops.net
The Turkish club is expected to be – for yet another season – one of the teams that are going to have a leading role. And how could it be any different since they have one of the most complete rosters in the tournament and a coach who knows the road to the top very well. Fener are coming off the best season in their history as they came 1.9’’ away from winning their first Euroleague title. Obradovic’s players almost brought about an epic upset in the final against CSKA, coming back from a 21-point deficit, but a single moment of idleness in their defense deprived them of an entire title. Victor Khryapa, with a follow after a missed shot saved the “army’s team,” who won the title in overtime.
Signings
Fener managed to hold on to all of their top class players from last season and therefore didn’t have to make any big signings in the summer. Despite this, they did make an excellent move with the acquisition of the American forward, James Nunnally, who was the MVP of the Italian championship last year with Avellino. They also acquired Ahmet Duverioglu, who adds depth to the roster.
Coach
Recommendations are not necessary when we’re talking about Zeljko Obradovic, who has won the trophy eight times. He hopes that this year he’ll celebrate the ninth and lead Fener to the Promised Land for the first time. In Zots’s third season on Fener’s bench the team looks more ready than ever.
The team will be satisfied if…
… they win the trophy, nothing less. After all, for a team with such a roster and having lost in such a dramatic way in last year’s final, the goal can be none other than the cup.
We are anxiously waiting to see…
… a healthy Kostas Sloukas. The Greek guard was afflicted by the known footpad injury last season and he lost a big part of it as a result. Fener are a totally different team with Sloukas at the helm and this could be seen in important games like the semifinal against Laboral Kutxa.