By Bugra Uzar/ buzar@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko lost Game 5 against Anadolu Efes and now trails 3-2 in the Turkish League Finals but that hasn’t been the worst of their night.
After taking a blow to the head in the third quarter, Luigi Datome was forced to leave the court and it was noticed that he suffered temporary memory loss. The medical staff checked his situation and decided he should be taken to the hospital but the on-duty ambulance in the hall explained that they are forbidden to leave their post. Fenerbahce‘s staff took it on themselves and drove Datome to the hospital where his treatment has continued.
Datome joined the Finals after recovering from a leg injury he suffered in late April and coach Zeljko Obradovic noted after the game that his return was rushed when talking about his injury-plagued squad: “I think it’s a miracle that Gigi Datome is even playing right now. He hasn’t played since the Dacka game. He had only two practices with 5-on-5 play.”
Anadolu Efes issued the following statement for the incident: “As Anadolu Efes Sports Club, we wish Luigi Datome an urgent recovery after the fifth match of Tahincioğlu Basketball Super League play-off final series against Fenerbahçe Beko. Our greatest wish is that he will regain his health as soon as possible. We need to enlighten the public due to the several reports by media organizations and posts made on social media platforms. After the health issue experienced by Luigi Datome in the game, Fenerbahçe Beko health committee and medical teams in Sinan Erdem Sports Hall intervened immediately. After receiving information from the Fenerbahçe Beko medical staff that the player’s condition was not urgent and that Luigi Datome would be taken to the hospital by themselves, the ambulance in charge remained in Sinan Erdem Sports Hall as the Turkish Basketball federation requires unless there’s an emergency.
For our club, players’ health is most important than all results and achievements. As Anadolu Efes Sports Club, we will follow the issue. We would like to underline once again that athletes’ health comes first and foremost for our club, regardless of the team”.