Sertac Sanli laments for missing opportunity, adamant on his career decision / News - Basketnews.com

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In last year's Final Four, Sertac Sanlı was an instrumental part of Anadolu Efes Istanbul going for the EuroLeague title for the first time. In the summer, he opted for a chance to play for the very same team that challenged Efes in the final: FC Barcelona.

Sertac Sanli

Team:FC BarcelonaPosition:CAge:31Height:212 cmWeight:115 kgBirth place:Istanbul, TurkeyProfileNewsStatistics

But the EuroLeague gods draw him a different fate this season as Barcelona lost in the semis, and now the Turkish center has to watch his ex-teammates from the stands at best.

"Being dominant in the regular season loses its meaning because it is one game," Sanli told BasketNews. "You'll go to the final if you win but go home if you lose. This didn't create any pressure on us, though. Just some details determined the fate of the game."

As it goes for the season, Sanli's role was somewhat diminished despite his minutes remaining similar - roughly 14:30 minutes per game. But regarding the numbers, he had some declines in terms of absolute figures and efficiency figures.

At Efes, Sertac scored 1.21 points per possession for 2.9/5 average FG. At Barcelona, it was 0.92 PPP for 2.4/5.2 FG rates. Besides, he was an excellent space creator for Efes, whereas, in Barcelona, his defensive assignments and rebounding focus came to the fore.

But oddly enough, his best game was against Anadolu Efes, where he scored 24 points, 9/11 FG with zero turnovers.

"I was thinking in some part of my mind to play of a potential matchup against Efes," Sertac admitted. "I would love to play against my former teammates. But honestly, I don't know how I would feel if such a thing occurred, and it doesn't matter now."

"It was such a strange coincidence that I played my best game against Efes. I'm trying to have a good ending for a tough season because there are still games to play, especially in Liga Endesa," he underlined.

What about the future? Sertac stands firmly behind his decision and also can't wait to help Turkish NT and to work with Ergin Ataman as his coach again.

"I'm currently happy at Barcelona. The staff, my teammates, and the entire organization helped me a lot in this process. Except for yesterday, the entire season was good."

"The National Team is obviously a big issue. We cannot just talk about one person or one player; I would like to give a big fight with my teammates and Ergin Ataman to lead the National Team for the best places in EuroBasket," he concluded.

Sertac will play one of the toughest games of the season against Olympiacos, not because of the sporting reasons but because it is a game where no one actually wins a trophy: the infamous third-place game.

EuroLeague title aspirations? Maybe next year.

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