AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
    • Soccer News & More
  • Magazine
  • Africa Sports Dev Conference & Expo
  • TV
  • JOBS
  • About Us

Title-chasing Banvit believe they can overcome all obstacles

4/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
14 Gasper Vidmar (SLO) - 32 Johannes Pierre L. Thiemann (GER) - Banvit v MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg, 2017 Basketball Champions League, Bandirma - Kara Ali Acar Spor Salonu(Turkey), Quarter-Finals, 21 March 2017
​

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LAGUNA (Basketball Champions League) - You're going to bring a smile to the face of anyone connected to Banvit when the conversation is about the Basketball Champions League.

Winners of the Turkish Cup earlier this season, the Bandirma side stayed on course for another trophy when it stunned MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg at the death in the second leg of their Quarter-Final in the European competition.
​
Needing to win that game in Germany by 6 points in order to progress to the Final Four with a 1-point triumph on aggregate, Banvit got the necessary margin of victory when Jordan Theodore scored with 0.5 seconds remaining in the game.
"I think the whole bench jumped at the same time when he made that lay-up," Banvit captain Gasper Vidmar said. "That was an amazing feeling."
​
The clinching of a spot in the Final Four continued an incredible season for Banvit, a team that has played in its share of thrilling games.

In one Regular Season home clash with Aris, Banvit's fans experienced the full range of emotions. The last was one of utter ecstasy after Gediminas Orelik buried a shot at the end of overtime for victory.
The journey has been long and hard on the court, and off it for Banvit. The club is based in Bandirma, a city in northwestern Turkey on the Sea of Marmara.

Every time Bandirma play away from home in the Basketball Champions League, the players, coaches and staff have to hop on a ferry for a two-and-a-half hour ride and then catch a flight.

"We love what we're doing and when you love what you're doing, then basically there is no obstacle," said Banvit coach Saso Filipovski, who added that the coaches and players make the most of their time on ferry rides.

"We watch games, we prepare. We use this time for preparation and we also rest. It's proof that everything is possible. There is no limit when you love something."
​
It's a great league, great teams and great cities. If we win this cup, it would be a huge step for Banvit.Gasper Vidmar
The Basketball Champions League experience has been fun for all the players, including Theodore, who competed in Germany last year for FIBA Europe Cup winners Fraport Skyliners.

He has made plenty of shots but also set up his teammates time and time again.

"Coming in, I didn't have any expectations about the league," he said. "But we play in different cities, countries and you know what? All these teams are good. They wouldn't be in this competition if they weren't.

"I look forward to going up against these top players, trying to prove myself night in and night out. It's been fun, the crowds are great, the teams are great.

"The way it's been set up with the draws, you don't know who you're going to play and you're on your heels. Normally, you do a bracket and you know who you're going to play. It's fun not being able to prepare for weeks and weeks ahead."

Theodore has also enjoyed the Basketball Champions League social media.

"A lot of players like to get the videos from the highlights of their games. The league sends us highlights, it's active on Instagram and a lot of other leagues aren't like that. My friends and family watch the games on livestream."

The Banvit players are now in Tenerife and they've gotten a good look at the Basketball Champions League trophy. To win it would be the icing on the cake for a great season.

They'll have to beat AS Monaco in Friday's Semi-Final and if successful, on Sunday overcome the winner of Iberostar Tenerife's Semi-Final with Umana Reyer Venezia.

"I think we're going to go in there and play tough and come out with the trophy," Theodore said. "We're a tough team to match up with."
Vidmar put this weekend into context.

"It's been a great league, great teams and great cities," he said. "If we win this cup, it would be a huge step for Banvit. It would be like the greatest success for sure. Basketball is the sport of the city."
​
By FIBA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling

    RSS Feed



Our Partners 


Picture
APO Group

Picture
Africa Global Media 

Picture

Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
Picture
✕