By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Shortly after completing the Regular Season of Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, as the second seed in Group G and securing homecourt advantage in the upcoming Play-Ins, Mersin Spor parted ways with head coach Can Sevim.
At the top of the 2025-26 campaign, 43-year-old Sevim guided Mersin to four wins in six BCL games opposite back-to-back champion Unicaja, lasting original Filou Oostende, and fellow newcomer Karditsa Iaponiki. Ranking second on the final standings earned homecourt advantage in a best-of-three Play-In series opposite Le Mans. However, the team’s performance in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Regular Season was disappointing, limited to a 3-8 tally and barely over the relegation zone.
Hired as the new head coach in 2023, his stint with MSK combined with promotion to the top-flight division of Turkiye in 2024, and from there to qualifying for the BSL Playoffs 2025 as the sixth seed behind a 16-14 record in the Regular Season, leading to the first Champions League journey in team history.
His departure was announced on Friday.
The former boss of Darussafaka, Joventut Badalona, RETAbet Bilbao, and Valencia, Carles Duran is widely expected to take over play-calling duties.
Following the break between the Regular Season and the Play-Ins, Mersin resumes the continental campaign on January 6, hosting Le Mans in Servet Tazegul Arena. The winner of the best-of-three series will join fellow BSL outfit Galatasaray MCT Technic, Rytas, and Hapoel Netanel Holon or Trapani Shark in Group I of the Round of 16.
Heading to Round 11 of the domestic league, the next game is in Tofas Arena against Bursaspor on Sunday.
Galata was also busy on Friday, announcing the start of a loan assignment for Christian Bishop at Karsiyaka.
The 26-year-old forward averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over five appearances with the Lions in the BCL Regular Season. Previous league experience amounted to 16 games played with ERA Nymburk last season.