By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Euroleague has decided that one of the four wildcards for next season will be given to Turkey. It’s part of the market strategy of the competition to include one more Turkish team, as Fenerbahce and Efes have an A license, but champions Karsiyaka can’t be considered a lock.
The decision of Euroleague is not necessarily going to be based on the final league standings and that doesn’t favor the team of coach Ufuk Sarica. Τhe wildcard selection process is going to end at the start of July, Dogus Darussafaka and Galatasaray are also interested, but Karsiyaka’s problems are the financial issues that plague the club.
No player is owned money by Karsiyaka, as the main sponsor “Pinar” is paying them on time and in full. However the club seems to consciously deny payment to every other third part. That includes agents and companies that provide services which are need by a basketball team. That’s why there’s a FIBA ban of transfers for Karsiyaka – and also for Galatasaray – and after the financial issues that some Euroleague clubs faced during recent seasons, that situation is an important disadvantage for a team applying for a wildcard.
It’s an admirable feat that Karsiyaka with the 11th budget in the TBL got the championship title, but its debts can’t be overlooked. On the other hand, even if Karsiyaka gets the wildcard, the team will have to use for its Euroleague games the “Halkapinar Spor Salonu” which complies with the competition standards and not its current gym. It has to be noted that TBL is the only major league from which the champions doesn’t get automatically a B license – if they doesn’t have already an A license – because the league is controlled directly by the federation.