We'll need some extra performances against this Fener team!
Good, better, even better than that! With each round in Euroleague rivals get stronger and stronger. This time powerhouse Turkish flagship team Fenerbahce will face us on Wednesday from 5.30 pm.
Last season we caused a huge surprise destroying the blue and yellows' plans in Euroleague eliminating them in the quarter finals 2-1 and entering in the FINAL4. We have some nice memories about them, but our opponents are surely preparing against us doubly determined. Last year's fail has rearranged many things around the house of Fener who have a huge budget. First they have sacked the head coach who wouldn't even last until the end of the season. As a replacement the hired French national team head coach Valerie Garnier, who is an excellent professional, and her teams were always characterized by fast-paced style of play, unity, and a well-constructed system. The improvements on the roster that already featured many excellent players has gone through along these lines as well.
From the key players one of the outstanding personalities of Turkish basketball, Vardarli, and future prospect Cora stayed on the shore of Bosporus. The latter has signed a three-year deal which confirms the concept of rebuilding. They have also signed contract extensions with four international players who would be welcome anywhere in the world. Verameyenka, Sottana, Plum, and Czech passport holder Vaughn are all world class players. Besides them they have three big fish in their net. The biggest name of those is the still very young Italian player Zandalasini, who has fantastic attributes. Our former player Bria Hartley already with a French passport in her pockets has switched teams inside Turkey after a great season. They also managed to get Kia Stokes the Turkish citizenship, so Plum is practically their only overseas player, and this way they have created the opportunity for themselves to be able to change their roster during the season, and keep improving on an already outstanding squad, which if they can make it into a functioning team will not be stopped by many others.
Our team that were heading towards Istanbul on Tuesday morning is getting in a better shape with each passing round, and hopefully they will even increase this level. Before the game we asked our assistant coach Carlos Cantero about his expectations.
The game can be followed via online statistics on the FIBA page and via live stream on Euroleague YouTube channel.
Sopron Basket vs. Fenerbahce
17 games (15 in Euroleague)
5 wins/12 losses
1329 points scored/1377 conceded
Because of the SuperCup game on Tuesday our next home game will take place at an unusual time, on Friday from 6 pm, in which we host BKG PRIMA NATURA Szigetszentmiklós
A jövő keddi Szuper Kupa mérkőzés miatt szokatlan időpontban, pénteken 18 órakor kerül sor a következő hazai bajnoki mérkőzésünkre, melyen a BKG PRIMA NATURA Szigetszentmiklóst fogadjuk
The board of our club has great experience in managing difficulties, but we are facing an especially huge challenge in terms of functioning due to the energy crisis, as well as on a professional level, since Courtney Vandersloot is for now unable to join our team due to personal reasons
Klubunk vezetésének nagy tapasztalata van már a nehézségek menedzselése terén, de most különösen nagy kihívások elé nézünk a működés tekintetében az energia-válság miatt, illetve szakmai vonalon is, miután személyes okok miatt Vandersloot Courtney egyelőre nem tud csatlakozni a keretünkhöz