By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Turkey was eliminated in the Round of 16 of EuroBasket 2022 after an intense game won by France 86-87 in overtime and in the press conference, both Bugrahan Tuncer and Ergin Ataman expressed their disappointment.
After replacing Shane Larkin on the court and producing a 22-points-losing effort, Tuncer admitted that the result was heartbreaking and reminded him of the way Turkey didn’t make it to the knockout games in the last FIBA World Cup.
As he said: “I don’t know what to say really. I’m so mad. I’m so sad. I can’t find any nice words. Sorry about it. I don’t remember a game like this. Everyone is very upset. First 2019, now this. We did the impossible again. We took the game we were leading with 10 points to overtime and lose it”.
Coach Ergin Ataman went a step even further: “It’s the same feeling. I don’t want to make any comments about the game. Maybe it’s the worst emotional loss in my 26 years career. Congratulations to France, I hope they will continue on a good way and get to the medals. Basketball is a strange game. Sometimes it brings great happiness, and sometimes we experience such a painful loss. This is the most painful and heaviest loss of my career. We were very close to giving this victory to the Turkish people and we are all disappointed”.
Ergin Ataman devastated after Turkey’s heartbreaking loss to France.
“Maybe the worst emotional loss of my coaching career” pic.twitter.com/NGWkQKCcXI
— Antonis Stroggylakis (@AStroggylakis) September 10, 2022
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL