Besiktas entered the EuroCup playoffs as the sixth in Group A, but advanced to the semifinals with away victories against favored teams like Gran Canaria and Hapoel Tel Aviv.
“We didn’t enter the EuroCup as favorites. We’re talking about a club that narrowly avoided relegation in the Turkish Super League last season. We entered with ambitions to be more competitive, both domestically and in Europe, to attract good and young players who might want to find a place in the club from this beautiful city, to choose Besiktas over other environments. We succeeded in that. Even reaching the EuroCup playoffs wasn’t a must. If it happens, it happens. I am very proud of this season, where much more was achieved than expected,” said the head coach.
After several years of hiatus, the Turkish team has hinted at moving towards the top echelons of European basketball. This is evidenced by their currently stable third place in the Turkish Super League, with only EuroLeague giants Fenerbahce and Anadolu Efes ahead of them.
“We reached the EuroCup playoffs, one game away from the final, filled our arena, and did many great things. Everyone talks about the young players from other teams. Who among my players is in their prime, apart from Derek Needham? Only he has reached this level because he played in the EuroCup final. I have absolutely nothing to blame them for,” added Alimpijevic.
In the decisive match against Bourg, Alimpijevic couldn’t count on one of his key players, Matt Mitchell, who briefly lost consciousness in the second game of the series after a heavy fall.
“I am proud that we didn’t complain at any moment. I didn’t talk about missing this or that. At my insistence, we didn’t want to force Mitchell for the final game against Bourg. It’s not an ankle that he twisted, where a certain period of waiting is required. It’s a different kind of injury, which is solely the responsibility of the player and his personal feeling of whether he can or cannot play. I didn’t insist on him, even though he trained today,” concluded the promising head coach.