Pınar, who lost the last Euroleague champion Anadolu Efes in 5 games with a largely renewed team in the ING Basketball Super League and sits in the leadership seat with 4 wins on the road, and once again competed for the top in the FIBA Champions League, where she narrowly missed the cup by playing in the final last season. In Karşıyaka, Coach Ufuk Sarıca said that the goals will not end for them.
Ufuk Sarıca, who previously won the Turkish Cup, the President’s Cup between 2012 and 2016, and the Super League championship 28 years later, carried Karşıyaka to the finals in Europe and to the Euroleague for the first time in its history, has been a partner in the summits for 3 years and subscribed to the finals. He made special statements to the News Agency (DHA). Sarica in Kaf-Kaf, who was caught in the pandemic on the way to the championship in Europe in 2020 and played the final in the Champions League last season, said that they will not be without a goal again.
Stating that the success in the last 3 years is the return of the system, Sarıca said, “Before, we had a system that led to the beginning, development, progress and greater success between 2012-2016. The club went to the Euroleague for the first time at the end of 4 years. Frankly, we were the same again. We were able to continue to achieve success with the system. Sustainable success is very important. Actually, this is what we need to say. Because there can be daily or 3-5 match, 3-4 month periods in sports, but this year is our 3rd year and it has always been in the Super League for 3 years. There is a team that is in the top 3, there is a team that always shares the top, and there is a team that is successful in every cup it plays in Europe. We were very close to the cup in the season that was interrupted in Europe due to the pandemic. We have the final last year. Not so much. “We played in the final when we were not shown as the favourite. We have a good start to the cup this year as well. After all, what I want to say is that it is important to ensure sustainable success and continuity, and we achieved this.” st.
“WE ARE THE BRAND AND THE PREFERRED CLUB IN BASKETBALL”
Reminding that many of his players have changed this year, Ufuk Sarıca said, “However, we made a good start to the season by establishing the basics and we will do our best to continue it. Our being a brand, our aim for sustainable success, our being there became a reason for preference for the players. His trust, belief and mutual relations are also an important factor. When you look at the past, we imported many players from here with greater opportunities to other clubs. They see that they can make a progress here and go higher. Because of this belief, we are the reason for preference. Here we are here with our own means. We are trying to take measures to protect the staff structure, but sometimes we cannot go beyond our own budget, we cannot reach there and separation is inevitable,” he said.
“WE HAVE STARTED THE SEASON WELL BUT WE ARE YET AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MARATHON”
Pınar Karşıyaka, who raises the bar of success every season under the management of Ufuk Sarıca, is favored in the FIBA Champions League this year after the final last season, Sarıca said that being among the favorites should not be a pressure factor on the team. Emphasizing that his feet should be firmly on the ground, Sarıca said, “I did not head Karşıyaka without a goal. We always aspired to championships, finals, cups, played there. We started the season very well, but we are still at the very beginning of the marathon. We should not create this as a pressure factor on the team from the beginning. ” said.
The experienced coach said, “We must be a team that plays together, wins together, and grows on the road. During the season, there may be matches where the ball is shared incorrectly and the players are not on their day. It is not known where this season will be. Our primary goal in Europe should be to pass the 2 group stages. With the format, the group leaders go directly to the last 16. The other 2 teams are crossmatched. If we pass the group stages, then we aim to pass the quarter finals and the Final Four stages. Our feet must be firmly on the ground. Yes, we are a good team, but there are serious teams in Europe with us, 4- There are 5 championship candidates,” he said.
“OUR FANS THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE”
Ufuk Sarıca in Pınar Karşıyaka, who is in the leadership seat of the Super League, stated that the biggest advantage of returning his fans, who have been apart for 1 year due to the coronavirus pandemic, is this season. Reminding that they experienced the effect of the pandemic as a team last season, Sarıca said, “We had a very good exit in the league last season, but we had 3-4 players who could not walk at the end of the season after the problems we had with the coronavirus pandemic, and 2 of them had to have surgery as soon as the league ended. “The important thing is to finish the regular season in the league as high as we can. As it is known, the teams in the top 4 places gain the field advantage in the Play-Offs,” he said.
“If we take the advantage of the field, we will gain a significant advantage in the Play-Offs this season with the return of our fans to the halls,” said Ufuk Sarıca, “Always the biggest driving force and biggest trump card of Karşıyaka. We missed them very much. We will walk together with their support. We want to be at the top of the top 4. We are in a very long marathon. There are very ambitious teams. When we look at Anadolu Efes, we have not lost except for the game where we were unfortunately defeated by 1 point on the road. In the remaining weeks, we have not lost until the last ball. We will be a fighting team,” he said.
“TIMING IS SO AMAZING”
After starting the season with 2 wins in the FIBA Champions League Group B, Pınar Karşıyaka, who lost at home to Baxi Manresa in the last moments, was suspended from FIBA last season due to the 8 finals in Russia, and Ufuk Sarıca, before this appointment, was delayed by 2 matches. He said the timing of the sentence was unacceptable. Sarıca, who could not be at the head of the team on the court due to the penalty announced late in the leadership struggle of the two ambitious teams in the group, and will not be on the bench in the match to be played on November 9 with the Spanish representative, said: “It is a very surprising and meaningful penalty in terms of timing. The penalty was given in June, but it was just Manresa for us. “They took away our right of defense and our right to object. I cannot accept such a penalty at such an important time in the league, where the leaders made it to the last 16 with the changed status. Frankly, I am surprised and upset.” made.
Ergin KARATAŞ / İZMİR, (DHA)
