By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce became the first Turkish team to qualify for a Final Four in 15 years and Oguz Savas says he’s proud of his team and of Turkish basketball.
He played in the Euroleague for the first time with Ulker in 2004-05 and since then hasn’t changed a jersey. Every year however, he started out with the dream of competing in the Final Four but failed. This year Oguz Savas celebrated Fenerbahce/Ulker’s first qualification in their history for a final stage of the Euroleague and the first one for a Turkish team after 15 years.
“It’s a great honor and it has been one of my biggest goals for many years. It’s the first participation of a Turkish team in 15 years and it means a lot for Turkish basketball. Everyone was happy and the whole of basketball world in Turkey was happy for our qualification in the Final Four.
What counts for me is to follow through and be consistent. I wish that next year not only Fenerbahce, but more Turkish teams are in the Final Four,” the 28year old center stated, and he doesn’t hide that he has a big appetite for what comes next: “What we’ve accomplished is a great success, but if we make two more steps, it’ll be perfect.”
– Can this success for Turkish basketball compare with what happened with the national team of Turkey in the Eurobasket of 2001 and the World Cup of 2010? That is, can Turkish basketball be assisted in general from this accomplishment?
“It’s not easy to compare these achievements. It is a big achievement though, because just as everyone was talking about the Turkish national team in 2010, in the same way the whole country was now talking about us. This qualification for Fenerbahce can help Turkish basketball, but it needs to trigger other things as well. There will be no point if we play again in a Final Four in 15 years.”
– How much did Zeljko Obradovic help in this?
“His experience is huge and he helped us a lot, not only on the court, but off the court as well. He has won the Euroleague eight times and that says it all. He has a large share in this success.”
– What was the biggest change that Fenerbahce made to reach this point?
“We started winning. We have good chemistry, a good mentality, we’re all friends between us. We built up confidence and we overcame all the difficulties.”
– Real are considered the favorites because of the home court advantage. Do you agree?
“It’s just one game and there are no favorites. On paper, because of the home court Real might have an advantage. But we don’t mind being outsiders. In the last few years the outsiders are vindicated.”