Sertac Sanli expands on Jasikevicius' temper, compares him with Ataman / News - Basketnews.com

Sanli said that Jasikevicius doesn't have a bad character and is just driven to win every game instead while being terrific off the court. According to Sanli, Saras sticks to his system more than Ataman, but both specialists share the desire for details.

Credit: IMAGO/Seskim Photo - Scanpix Credit IMAGO/Seskim Photo - Scanpix

After two years in Spain, Sertac Sanli left FC Barcelona and joined Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Looking at the seasons spent outside his home country of Turkey, the big man reflected on his time in Catalonia.

Multiple members of the organization left Barca this offseason. Most notably, Nikola Mirotic and head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius departed from the team alongside several other players.

During the two years with Barca, Sanli played in two EuroLeague Final Fours but didn't manage to capture the title. Multiple people questioned Jasikevicius' coaching methods as the main cause behind he struggles.

In an interview with Julio Ocampo from Relevo, Sanli pushed back against this notion.

"In recent years, before reaching the Final Four, it seemed very easy. Everyone treated us as the main favorites because we also had an excellent regular season. I don't know what happened afterward. Maybe we felt the pressure, and [Real] Madrid didn't," the player said. "The psychological pressure was too much, yes. We all wanted to win to make Barca bigger, but there was a lot of pressure. There are many factors, so I don't know what else to say. There is no single answer."

"He doesn't have a bad character, although it seems so," Sanli said about Jasikevicius. "Honestly, if you think about it, all coaches seem to have a bad temper, but it's more complex. You see them there, they seem pissed off during timeouts… I got to know him off the court as well. I can say that he has a personality, a strong temperament, but, above all, a great desire for victory."

According to Sanli, the Lithuanian specialist is a tremendous coach off the court, and the image he has comes from his unwavering desire to win.

"He doesn't hide anything because he wants to win. He constantly makes us see [our] mistakes, perhaps more than anyone because you have to react quickly to correct them," Sanli explained. "He just wants to play and win basketball [games], but he's a great guy outside."

Before joining Barca, Sanli played for Anadolu Efes Istanbul, where he won the EuroLeague under head coach Ergin Ataman, who will now lead Panathinaikos Athens during the 2023-24 season.

Talking about Ataman and Jasikevicius, Sanli told that they are much more alike than people would often think.

"We're talking about two of the best on a continental level. That makes me a lucky guy. Ataman and Saras are different. The first gives more freedom. The second one too, but without leaving your system. I could be talking about them all day because there are no short answers to define them," he said.

"Ataman has his system but shapes it depending on the game and the opponents. Jasikevicius makes modifications, but he never abandons his matrix, his idea. In this sense, he is much less flexible," Sanli said. "One thing unites them: the number of plays or options during the games, and an obsessive preparation of offense and defense."

Jasikevicius is now a free agent, having left Barcelona during the summer after disagreements with the management. A month later, Nikola Mirotic left the club and joined EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.

"I don't know if the problem was money; besides, it's not my business. I imagine there were many factors that only they and the club know about. Honestly, I'm not aware of Barca's plans. I don't care anymore, either," Sanli concluded.

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