By Alex Madrid / info@eurohoops.net
Last season was a historic one for Banvit. Jordan Theodore took the Turkish team to its very first title, the Turkish Cup. And on top of that during an unforgettable season, the team reached the Final Four of the Basketball Champions League.
Theodore was also named MVP of the competition that weekend and Banvit was one of the two finalists. Iberostar Tenerife with its home crowd behind them, stood in the way of the Turkish squad. After forty hard-fought minutes, the hosts of the event became the first Basketball Champions League winner.
Darussafaka swept Banvit in a three games series in the Turkish League playoffs and the campaign ended in less than a month after the Final Four.
With the season over, Banvit’s main stars Furkan Korkmaz and Jordan Theodore set new goals. Their ambitious objectives led them far from Turkey. Korkmaz would play for the Philadelphia 76ers while Theodore wanted “to become the best point guard in EuroLeague”.
New season, renewed energies
Last year’s runners-up lost their main pieces but not all of them. Banvit’s biggest movements in the off-season were the extension of captain Gasper Vidmar’s contract and securing the services of Damian Kulig at least for one season.
Banvit surrounded them with quality players. New faces like Tony Taylor, Angelo Caloiaro, Jake Odum or Adonis Thomas -who excelled playing for Venezia in Basketball Champions League- landed in Bandirma.
Also, coach Saso Filipovski, who shined in Poland with Zielona Gora and led Banvit to its historical campaign, remained with the team. It’s almost a totally new group but with the same objectives.
The beginning of the campaign was tough with Banvit falling in Venezia after a triple overtime in a dramatic game. They also needed an overtime at home to win their first game of the season against Petrol Olimpija.
However, the Turkish squad signed Andy Rautins to complete its backcourt, who had his debut against AEK in another close victory.
The team recovered their faith after two straight wins before facing the only undefeated team in Group C: medi Bayreuth. In its best game of the season by far Banvit ended Germans perfect record and reached the first spot of the group standings.
It seems that Banvit has finally found its rhythm in the competition. After three consecutive wins, no one can doubt that last year’s runners-up are once again candidates to raise the trophy in April.
Photo Credit: FIBA