Anadolu Efes, which won the championship by beating Barcelona in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, was on their way to Istanbul from Cologne, where the Final Four was held, and coach Ergin Ataman, who made a statement at the airport, stated that they wrote a great story that had to end like this.
Anadolu Efes, one of our representatives in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, won the championship by defeating Barcelona 86-81 in the final. There was an enthusiastic welcome as the champion Anadolu Efes arrived in Istanbul from Cologne, where the Final Four was held.
Coach Ergin Ataman, who made a statement at the airport, said, “This is how this story should have ended and that’s how it ended. We have carried Anadolu Efes to the top of European basketball for 3 years, but we have to be crowned with a cup. We succeeded. I am proud of my players. They wrote a great story. They wrote a great story. We had a performance that would dominate the EuroLeague last year, but we couldn’t complete it, this year we completed the task. But for now we have completed. We got the biggest trophy, EuroLeague, but of course we will continue to represent Turkish basketball in the best way. I would like to thank hundreds of thousands of our citizens who support the screen. Since yesterday, everyone has had a great love, respect and interest. We receive messages from our President, political party leaders and mayors. I thank everyone very much. I thank the Turkish people for being one heart with us. We promised, we kept it. That’s why I’m happy,” he said.
Asked about his feelings on winning the fourth European trophy of his career, Ataman said, “It will continue. As long as there are such good organizations. You know Anadolu Efes is one of the best basketball organizations in European basketball. Not only championships, but also the players it brought to Turkish sports, the opportunities it created for Turkish youth. “It is a great honor for me to work in such a club. I am doing my duty. We show together what Turkish people can achieve. We also have very valuable Turkish players in our team. Sertaç Şanlı has become one of the most important players of this team. Likewise, our team captain Doğuş Balbay,” He raised the cup in the air. I am also happy for our young players, “he said.
