The respect given by his 213 centimeters height quickly turns into closeness when Sertac Sanli (Edirne, Turkey, 1991) sits down and starts chatting. She seems to want to explain herself and takes her time answering. After 13 years as a professional playing for Turkish teams, this summer he decided to bet on Barça and try new adventures. Just a few weeks earlier, the center had been one of the executioners of Jasikevicius’ team in the Euroleague final in Cologne, where he fulfilled a dream by winning the title with his Anadolu Efes. In Belgrade he will contest his third final four.
Are you still nervous?
No, rather the opposite. Everyone was waiting for this, we’ve been working all season to get within two games of the title and I’m not nervous. I’m excited and wanting to play and live again in a very nice environment.
What do people say to you on the street?
In the fifth game against Bayern, the atmosphere at the Palau was incredible and our fans gave us extraordinary energy. Since then, they stop us on the street and tell us that we are going to win the Euroleague.
It must be a motivating feeling.
We work for them and I am very happy, I hope we can win the title.
Real Madrid awaits you in the semifinals. Have you prepared it in a special way?
Obviously we have in mind that we are playing against Madrid and it is a Euroleague semifinal, but it is important to relax because nerves can cause you to make silly mistakes or miss easy shots.
How is it achieved?
I try to relax and put the game on hold for a bit, knowing how important it is, but I try to be very relaxed. I don’t like to be nervous!
Six classics this year and five wins. Is it of any use?
It is not a factor. Not at all. It will be a different match. That we have won before is of no use for this semifinal because we have to win again to qualify for the title. We don’t think about that.
Last year he came out in the final four in Cologne…
Thank you.
But what memories do you have?
Well, very good because I fulfilled a dream I had since I was young by winning the Euroleague with Efes, the team I started playing with. But this year everything will be different.
You must have the recipe…
The most important thing is to enjoy with my teammates. Then he has fewer secrets, you have to play hard and fight for every ball, for every inch. But above all, stick together.
What is it like to work under Ergin Ataman?
He is a unique coach who has a very special character. I think everyone is aware of what he has achieved, he has managed to manage the best team in Europe for the last three years with the icing on the cake of the title he won last year.
But sometimes he loses his temper a bit, like this year at the Palau…
It has a unique character but you can not say anything. He has a very specific way of working and doing things and he uses it to win… and he wins. So nothing can be discussed.
¿Se parece en algo a Jasikevicius?
Not much, they have different philosophies on the court and I think people can see that. But the two were last year in the final four and have repeated this year, what else can be said?
At Barça you are living your first year as a professional outside of Turkey, is it as you expected?
I expected some difficulties when leaving my country for the first time. At the beginning of the season I tried to adapt to everything as fast as I could and everyone, from the players to the staff, tried to help me and made me feel very comfortable. They included me as one more, so this first year has been great.
Has it surprised you considering that it is a locker room full of stars?
The truth is that at the beginning, when I arrived at Barça, I was a bit scared. It was the new guy and I guess it’s normal to be scared, but right away everyone turned to me and made me feel very relaxed. I think my adaptation has been very fast.
Was it very hard to make the decision to leave Turkey?
It was not easy at all, especially after a year in which we won the Euroleague.
What led you to decide?
It wasn’t for money or for going to Barça. Those who know me, family and friends, know that I wanted to go abroad to play, try that experience in my life to meet new people and discover other cultures to learn. I am delighted with my decision.
Was it clear that you wanted to come to Spain?
I wanted to play outside of Turkey, it could be Spain like Italy or Germany, for example. But I am very happy to have signed for Barça, I was excited that they made me an offer and to be able to represent my country here.
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