John Shurna, Gran Canaria: 'It's going to be a battle'

Before anything else, I would like to thank our fans for helping the team make it to the finals. Our fans really gave us a home-court advantage in all the games. The game against Joventut was really tough and there was an incredible, incredible atmosphere. I would say it was the best crowd we have had so far. The fan support really has been huge throughout the whole season and to get a win in front of them against a great Joventut team was huge. There was a lot going on around the game to encourage fans to come to Gran Canaria Arena and cheer for us. Throughout the season, we have had terrific support and I think playing a semifinal game, it was exciting and special for not only the players but the fans as well. I think it was a fantastic environment. 

"Our fans really gave us a home-court advantage in all the games."

It was a tough game, too. If you watched it, you will remember that Joventut never gave up, they kept fighting. They were hitting shot after shot. From a broad perspective, looking at each semifinal game, you have, I would say, four really deep teams where lots of different guys step up and make plays. In the third quarter, we were able to get a couple of stops and gain some momentum there, but throughout the game, it was back and forth. Joventut is a great team with a lot of talent and it's well-coached, so it was a hard-fought match as expected and we were fortunate to come away with the victory. We knew Joventut would fight until the end, and that's exactly what they did. Thankfully, Nico Brussino knocked down enough free throws at the end of the game for us. 

Finally, I am in the EuroCup final! Like I said in my latest blog entry, I lost two semifinals before, in 2019 and 2022. Especially in this format, we are excited and happy for the win, but now there is one more game and we are focused on Turk Telekom, which is obviously a great team. It is going to be another hard-fought match. Drew \[Andrew Albicy\] and I shared a moment right after the game that was special. It was a quick moment where we realized we finally made it to the final! All that being said, now the focus is on the final. 

John Shurna of Gran Canaria has buried 30 of 63 three-pointers (47.6%) so far this season.

Shurna: elite three-point shooter!

We have played Turk Telekom twice and both came down to the final minutes. Once again it’s going to take great effort from our entire team. I think that has been a huge strength of our team. If you go down the roster, we have a lot of talented and unselfish guys that play for the team and I think that's showing here throughout the season and here in the playoffs as well, and that has been great for us. We will have to give it our best effort for the final. 

Turk Telekom proved throughout the season what a great team they are, whether it be in the Turkish league, in which they are in first place, and in our EuroCup group, they were the number two seed. I think they have shown they really know how to win and have a lot of talented guys and a great coaching staff. I saw some of the highlights from their game against Prometey and everybody on the floor stepped up for them and made plays on both the offensive and defensive ends. So I think it's a really talented team that stays poised throughout the game. It's going to be a really tough game, but hey, what can you expect for a EuroCup final? 

"Turk Telekom proved throughout the season what a great team they are."

We have players who won European finals. Damien Inglis won the EuroCup with Monaco. Vitor Benite and Miquel Salvo have also won European competitions in the past. Anyone who has these experiences of playing in a final, a single-elimination game with a title on the line, has an advantage. There are players who have stepped up in situations like this and have been there before, and that experience will be helpful for us, I am sure.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the final and we have to be focused on Turk Telekom. They are a fantastic team and it's going to be a battle. Both teams will leave everything they have on the floor. We will play at home again and I hope to see an even better atmosphere at Gran Canaria Arena! Vamos Granca!

Gran Canaria v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-05-03T19:00:00.000Z)

Big man Olek Balcerowski, the 2022-23 EuroCup Rising Star, has played a key role in Gran Canaria advancing to the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Final with the best record in the competition, 18-3. He is only the second player to win the trophy twice, joining Bojan Dubljevic with that distinction. Balcerowski averaged 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game for an average PIR of 10.8 in 21 appearances this season. 

 Olek Balcerowski, Gran Canaria: 'This is only the beginning' 

Big man [Olek Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/), the 2022-23 EuroCup Rising Star, has played a key role in Gran Canaria advancing to the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Final with the best record in the competition, 18-3. He is only the second player to win the trophy twice, joining Bojan Dubljevic with that distinction. Balcerowski averaged 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game for an average PIR of 10.8 in 21 appearances this season. He first joined Gran Canaria's youth system along with teammate Khalifa Diop in 2015 and has taken giant steps to become one of the best centers in European basketball. Balcerowski is grateful to Gran Canaria for the opportunity and hopes to give back to the club by capturing the EuroCup crown. 

**Congratulations on winning the Rising Star award. How great is that for you and the team?** 

"I'm really happy that the club gave me this opportunity this year so I could play more minutes and be a bigger part of the team than in the last years. Nothing else, I'm just really happy. I want to thank the team, the coaches because without them I couldn't win it... I think this is only the beginning and I need to start to work harder to play even better. I would be happier if we win the EuroCup final!"  

"I think we learned from our mistakes and are better this year."

**Your good friend Khalifa Diop also won the award last season. Can you tell us a little about that friendship?** 

"I mean, we grew up together. We came here to Gran Canaria's CAR \[special program for young players\] when we were kids and we stuck together until now. It is actually amazing that we could play at this level together and be that important part of a team that is going to the EuroCup Final and is also a challenging team in the \[Spanish\] League. We are really good friends. We are hanging out together outside of the court and I'm really happy for him. I am sure he's really happy for me, for sure, that I could win it this year."  

**That was going to be my next question. Is there a friendly competition between the two of you?**

"For sure. In practice, we try to compete against each other and make each other better. We compete and sometimes there are even, like, little fights. But off the court, we get out of practice and forget about this because what happens on the court stays on the court. It's all good!"

Olek Balcerowski, a two-time EuroCup Rising Star!

2022-23 EuroCup highlights: Olek Balcerowski, Gran Canaria

**Gran Canaria is 18-3 this season. How do you explain the team's consistency?** 

"I think everyone at the core of the team is working for each other. We have great staff, great coaches and that helps us every day to prepare the games, to prepare ourselves for the challenges. I think the team understands each other and trusts each other. We were at this same spot some years in a row and we couldn't get it, so I think we have this hunger to show everybody that we can we can win it. For example, last year we lost to Andorra in this competition and it hurt us a lot. I think we learned from our mistakes and are better this year."

**You are the top-seeded team, not traveling in the playoffs. How important has this been for you to make it to the final?** 

"Going anywhere is far away from us and for everyone, getting here is far, so it's a big advantage for us. Other teams need to travel a lot and we play in front of our fans, and that helps us a lot. We are also staying the whole week at home because we play in Gran Canaria in the Spanish League and also in the final. Our fans are going to sell out the arena. Let's see what happens."

"Our advantage is for sure that we have two great players in each position."

**We have to talk about Turk Telekom. You played against them twice. What do you like about this team?**

"They have great individuals. They have really good players that play a lot of one-on-one, physical basketball like Axel Boutielle, and we need to be ready for them. I mean, they are a really, really physical team, so it is going to be a tough battle. more or less like the one we had against Bursaspor. I think they are similar teams, and we have to be ready for that. We beat them twice, so we know what's coming. Since we beat them twice, I think they are going to be more aggressive. They will want to go out with more energy and more spirit to win this game."

**You are the deeper team in this game. Can it be an advantage in such a high-pressure game?** 

"For sure, it is a big advantage. At this level, having 12 players that are able to compete in a final, I think it's crucial. I think they won't be able to compete at the same level for 40 minutes, even though they have great players. I don't think they are going to be at the same level for all 40 minutes. So our advantage is for sure, that we have two great players in each position, sometimes more. Players who can go and do exactly the same or even better than the one that was on the floor."  

**What would it mean for you, the club and the people of Gran Canaria to win the EuroCup?** 

"For me personally, it would be the biggest achievement, I think, in my career, only because I stayed so many years here in Gran Canaria, it feels like home for me. So going from the kid to winning such an important trophy, and being that big part of a team and helping the team like I'm doing this year... it would be, like I said, the biggest achievement in my career until now. And I think it's the same for the club, and the same for the fans. It is going to be one of the biggest achievements that the club has." 

Olek Balcerowski, Gran Canaria: 'This is only the beginning'

The final week of the 7DAYS EuroCup season is upon us, and with it we continue to honor the stars who made the 2022-23 season a success. It's time to applaud the five players selected to the All-EuroCup Second Team through voting by fans, media, head coaches and team captains. These five players are all receiving this honor for the first time.

2022-23 All-EuroCup Second Team

### [J'Covan Brown, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/j-covan-brown/011991/)

Hapoel had the EuroCup's top offense and Brawn was the man running it. The veteran point guard led the competition in assists with 6.7 per game, while helping Hapoel reach the quarterfinals. Among his 18 appearances, Brown reached double figures in assists in three games, which included tying the EuroCup's single-game assist record with 16 in a Round 11 win over Paris Basketball. That was one of Brown's two MVP of the Round honors, too. For the season, the 33-year-old posted 12.3 points and 3.1 rebounds for an average PIR of 15.8, the second-highest on the team. Brown also shined shooting free throws, making 57 of 62 for the season, ranking third in accuracy at 91.9%.

### [Onuralp Bitim, Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/onuralp-bitim/007929/)

The second season in the competition for Bitim has been a stellar one. The athletic 24-year-old forward ranked third this season among all EuroCup scorers with 18.1 points per game. He scored 15 or more points in 15 of his 19 appearances this season and never had fewer than 8 points in a single game. Bitim used well his playing time, 32:06 minutes per game, third highest in the competition, to also post 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists on average for Bursaspor, and he was the lone player this season to average more than 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He finished third in the EuroCup with 5.5 fouls drawn per game and had an average PIR of 16.3.

### [Sam Dekker, London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/)

It was a memorable return to the competition for Dekker, who led London to a historic eighthfinals berth as one of the best and most consistent performers in the competition. Dekker appeared in 16 games and played the fourth most minutes, 30:49 per game. He finished the season ranking second among all EuroCup scorers with 18.2 points, having scored more than 10 points in all but two appearances – his first and last of the season. Dekker's average performance index rating of 19.6 was third-best in the competition. He also posted 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and a team-high 1.2 steals during the season.

### [Bruno Caboclo, ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/)

The most impactful in-season addition of any team in the competition, dominated after joining Ulm in January. He posted a double-digit performance index rating in 10 of his 11 appearances, with Ulm going 7-4 in those games, for an average of 19.6, which was second-best in the competition. Caboclo also ranked second in blocks (1.5 bpg.) and two-pointers made (5.2), fifth in points (17.4 ppg.), sixth in rebounds (7.8 rpg.) and seventh in offensive rebounds (2.5 orpg.). In Round 13, Caboclo tied a club record with 33 points and set another with 14 two-point shots made on 17 attempts. The 28-year-old took his performances to another level in two playoff games, averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and a PIR of 25.0.

### [Tyrique Jones, Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/)

A fixture on the weekly highlight reels, Jones made an impact from the get-go in his first season in the competition and first with the club, which he helped reach the EuroCup Finals. Jones had two of his five double-doubles in the first two rounds of the season and continued to produce, ruling the paints across the EuroCup with averages of 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds. His 18.5 PIR average was the fifth highest in the competition, while he ranked sixth in both rebounds and offensive rebounds (2.7 orpg.), as well as two-pointers made (5.3). During the three playoff victories on the way to the finals, Jones improved his averages to 15.0 points and 9.3 rebounds for an average PIR of 23.3.

Michael Eric is knocking on the door of EuroCup history. The Turk Telekom Ankara center is one win away from joining the exclusive list of players to have won the 7DAYS EuroCup twice. His first crown came five years ago with Darussafaka Istanbul. 

 Michael Eric, Turk Telekom: 'You have to sacrifice to win at this level' 

[Michael Eric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/michael-eric/007360/) is knocking on the door of EuroCup history. The Turk Telekom Ankara center is one win away from joining the exclusive list of players to have won the 7DAYS EuroCup twice. His first crown came five years ago with Darussafaka Istanbul. 

Eric's path to basketball stardom was unlike that traveled by most other EuroCup greats. Born in Nigeria, soccer was his first choice of sports and Jay Jay Okocha was his first sports idol. A growth spurt and a trip to see his brother Stephen in Delaware, USA, back in 2004 changed his life. He started playing basketball in high school and went on to play college basketball for four years at Temple University. 

Eric started his professional career in the then-called D-League and played in Greece, Italy and Spain before joining Darussafaka in 2017. There, playing under legendary coach David Blatt, Eric took his game to the next level.

"I just remember having great teammates. I remember being part of a great coaching staff, David Blatt and his group, and it surprised me how detailed we were, how efficient it was listening to him, being a competitor. And the results came out to be a championship," Eric said. 

"And when I look back at those times, it's growth for me because it helped me understand to win, you have to sacrifice certain things. You have to be in certain positions as a competitor. You have to just sacrifice to win at that level. So seeing that happened five years ago and being in a position completely different from what I'm used to just proves the point that you have to sacrifice something to be a part of a good team."

The first positive consequence of winning the EuroCup was playing the 2018-19 EuroLeague with Darussafaka. Eric proved he belonged at that level by averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 29 games, playing less than 21 minutes per night. 

"It was a no-brainer. I didn't want to change the comfort level I created, but at the same time, it was a very good basketball move because I wanted to play against the best of the best. I wanted to play in the EuroLeague. I wanted to showcase that I could play. And with that opportunity that I had on the table, I took the opportunity," Eric said. 

"It was a no-brainer because I felt like they would give me the chance to actually play well, to actually showcase what I wanted to do. I know we didn't have a great season that year, but it was an opportunity for me to help my career grow and be dependent on as a good defender or a solid post player or '5' man, at least in Europe. So it helped me, winning the EuroCup, going into the EuroLeague."

His great season with Darussafaka offered him new opportunities. Eric went on to play for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and after a short stint with Turk Telekom, he joined mighty CSKA Moscow and took part in the 2021 EuroLeague Final Four. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds for CSKA in a very different role. 

"It was really one of the highlights of my career. I have been dreaming about winning the EuroLeague since then," he said. 

Eric went from CSKA to Unicaja Malaga looking for more playing time, but he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Although that is one of the most devastating injuries in basketball, Eric fought back. 

"Coming back from the injury was another thing. Just to make all of this even better and feel great about being in the finals and trying to fight for a EuroCup championship. A year ago, I was literally contemplating retirement. I was like 'ACL at 34? This is not going to go well.' And I get a chance to be on a team that is rolling and a team that needed my help," he said. "If it's 2 minutes, if it's 10 minutes, if it's 15 minutes... it made me feel special, made me feel like I was doing something right, at least trying to get back from this injury. So it pushed me more."

Michael Eric played for Darussafaka Istanbul, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and CSKA Moscow from 2018 to 2021.

Micheal Eric in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Now, Eric is back with Turk Telekom trying to help the team make history. His role is not the same as before, as Tyrique Jones's backup at center, but he really wanted to help a competitive team get better and that is exactly what he is bringing to the table. 

"I was not worried about certain things that you worry about when you're coming to a new situation. All I had to do was try to get my body and my mind right for opportunities like this, to be in a position just to come in and use my experience to help," Eric said. 

"Obviously, I can't play 20 minutes, but the opportunity that I get, I do what I can. That connection I made the year before I left for CSKA. It was really special to them. It's special to me. It was just a gift back to each other because I know what I'm getting from them as good people and they know what they will get from me, from my hard work and the opportunity that I'm going to take advantage of. So it was a no-brainer for both parties."

Eric is one of two Turk Telekom players who won the EuroCup with Darussafaka. The other, Emircan Kosut, has not played for the team this season. That leaves Eric as the only active player on the team who knows how it feels to win the EuroCup. At first, however, he didn't think the team had what it takes to win it, but now he is 100% onboard. 

Michael Eric is in his second stint with Turk Telekom Ankara

2022-23 EuroCup highlights: Micheal Eric, Turk Telekom

"We talk about it all the time. Since the day I got here, the first initial thing they were talking about was, 'Man, we're trying to win the EuroCup'. And I didn't even look at them like, 'Oh, this is impossible'. I saw the connection. I saw the team bonding, the way each player on the team talks to each other, keeps each other accountable. I said, 'Oh, for sure, these guys are special'. I was classifying them as 'these guys' because I just joined the team! But now I realized I'm also involved, you know?" Eric said. 

"But those few days I'm like, 'Man, these guys are actually special,' because they connect on a different level other than just basketball. They pick each other up, they keep each other accountable on and off the court. We were just bonding, and when they brought questions up to me related to EuroCup, about winning it, I said it was doable."

A piece of advice? Eric believes the team is ready to go all the way. 

"You just got to trust each other and fight through the last second of each game, and that's what we have done. Actually, every game we might be up or down 20, but fighting together was what I saw that they are great at, as well as giving us hope to be a EuroCup champion," he added. "So I have pretty much nothing really to advise them on except how great of a feeling it is to just lift the trophy and represent a club or represent a country like Turkiye that will always take care of you if you do such a thing. So that's what I was able to tell them. 'Don't worry, you'll be fine if you win this EuroCup'."

Game News

Game Videos

Michael Eric, Turk Telekom: 'You have to sacrifice to win at this level'

The countdown to the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Final is underway. However, before a champion is crowned, it is only fitting to stop and salute the standout performers who made the 2022-23 a success. The five players selected to the All-EuroCup First Team through voting by fans, media, head coaches and team captains are first-time honorees who led their respective teams deep into the EuroCup Playoffs.  

2022-23 All-EuroCup First Team

The countdown to the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Final is underway. However, before a champion is crowned, it is only fitting to stop and salute the standout performers who made the 2022-23 a success. The five players selected to the All-EuroCup First Team through voting by fans, media, head coaches and team captains are first-time honorees who led their respective teams deep into the EuroCup Playoffs. 

### [Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/)

Turk Telekom Ankara's success this season has been in part a result of the excellent play of Jerian Grant. The guard played all 18 games in the regular season and averaged 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.4 steals for a PIR of 18.5 as Turk Telekom finished with a 13-5 record. His totals for assists and PIR rank him among the top four in each category. Grant was the Quarterfinals MVP after going for 20 points and 7 assists against ratiopharm Ulm. Coach Erdem Can relied on him for 40 minutes in the semifinal victory over Prometey Slobozhanske, in which he recorded 19 points, 6 assists and 2 steals. Turk Telekom will take on Gran Canaria in Wednesday's final with a place in next year's EuroLeague up for grabs.

2022-23 All-EuroCup First Team: Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom Ankara

### [D.J. Stephens, Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-stephens/005982/)

All season long, EuroCup fans have been able to enjoy the high-flying dunks of Prometey Slobozhanske forward D.J. Stephens. Yet, he is so much more than that. In his second season in the competition, the 32-year-old averaged 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and a 15.1 PIR while helping lead newcomer Prometey to the semifinals. Stephens played in every possible fixture for his team this season and was a key reason behind Prometey's 13-game winning streak. That run helped the team wrap up the No.1 spot in Group A and took it as far as the last four, where it lost to Turk Telekom. In the postseason, Stephens improved on his regular-season averages by posting 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. Stephens ranked fourth in the competition in two-point accuracy at 72.8%.

2022-23 All-EuroCup First Team: D.J. Stephens, Prometey Slobozhanske

### [Axel Bouteille, Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/)

Alex Bouteille is the top scorer among teams that won a game in the EuroCup Playoffs this season. The French sharpshooter played all 21 games for Turk Telekom this season and he hit double digits for points in all but two fixtures. Bouteille closed the regular season with an average of 17.7 points, the most on Turk Telekom's roster and the fourth highest in the EuroCup, before going on to score 21 in the eighthfinals, 18 in the quarterfinals and 16 in the semifinals. He also grabbed 8 rebounds in the road win at Prometey to earn Semifinals MVP honors. No player in the EuroCup has made more three-pointers than the 60 scored by Bouteille this season. Add in his 4.8 boards per game and there's no denying Bouteille's impact on this year's EuroCup finalist.

2022-23 All-EuroCup First Team: Axel Bouteille, Turk Telekom Ankara

### [John Shurna, Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/)

He may not boast the stats of some of the other All-EuroCup selections, but John Shurna has been an integral part of Gran Canaria's success in 2022-23. The forward averaged 11.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and a 13.2 PIR in 23:11 minutes on the floor during 15 regular-season appearances before taking his game up a notch in the postseason. In Gran Canaria's wins against Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Paris Basketball in the eighthfinals and quarterfinals, respectively, Shurna made his presence felt by scoring 17 points on both occasions. Shurna deserves his flowers for an impressive campaign, which has Gran Canaria on the brink of a return to the EuroLeague for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.

2022-23 All-EuroCup First Team: John Shurna, Gran Canaria

### [Ante Tomic, Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/)

Ante Tomic continues to play a huge role for Joventut Badalona, both with his scoring and playmaking from the 5 position, as the player who tends to make everything tick for the Spanish team. The 36-year-old led Joventut in scoring during the regular season with 13.2 points per game, while he also grabbed the most rebounds (5.3 rpg.) and was among the team's leading assist providers with 3.4 helpers per night. Yet, in the playoffs, Tomic's influence grew even more as he tried to help Joventut get back into the EuroLeague after a 14-year absence. Joventut's dream came to an end in the semifinals with a loss to Gran Canaria, but the Croatian center averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists across the eighthfinals, quarterfinals and semifinals. It was yet another very impressive campaign by Tomic.

2022-23 All-EuroCup First Team: Ante Tomic, Joventut Badalona

There have not been many rematches in the 7DAYS EuroCup postseason, but the Finals will change that. Gran Canaria has defeated Turk Telekom Ankara twice this season, which adds some intrigue to their impending matchup.

 EuroCup Final focal points 

There have not been many rematches in the 7DAYS EuroCup postseason, but the Finals will change that. [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23) has defeated [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) twice this season, which adds some intrigue to their impending matchup.

### Round 7

In their first regular season matchup, Gran Canaria dominated the action in the first half, building an 18-point halftime lead on the road in Ankara that Turk Telekom cut to 81-88 by the final horn. With [Tony Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tony-taylor/005850/) scoring 28 points off the bench, Turk Telekom had a strong all-around showing on the offensive end. Gran Canaria, in contrast, had one of their most polarizing offensive performances of the season. Scoring 24 points over 16 one-on-one possessions, [Miquel Salvo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/miquel-salvo/005005/) and [Damien Inglis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/damien-inglis/003960/) took advantage of the notable absence of Tyrique Jones on the interior.  Gran Canaria scored no more than 15 points in one-on-one situations in any game the rest of the year. Taking some pressure off the team's execution and perimeter shooting with their unexpected outburst in the post and work on the offensive glass, Salvo and Inglis forced Turk Telekom to play from behind and held the hosts at bay in the second half.

Turk Telekom Ankara - Gran Canaria | Round 7 Highlights | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

### Round 16

In their second encounter, on its own court, Gran Canaria once again jumped out to an early lead on the way to an 89-79 victory. This time, Gran Canaria managed to hold Taylor to just 3 points, but [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/), [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) and [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) combined to score 57. The issue for Turk Telekom was that Gran Canaria shot a red hot 15-for-29 from beyond the arc, once again giving the islanders a considerable margin for error down the stretch. With eight different players knocking down at least one three-pointer, Gran Canaria's performance fell in line with the team's first-ranked perimeter scoring this season. While unable to secure a win, Turk Telekom figured some things out in Round 16, holding Gran Canaria to just 3 offensive rebounds – 11 fewer than in Round 7. The Turks had some issues with fouls but found quite a bit of success operating out of ball screens and looking to score in the lane.

Gran Canaria - Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 16 Highlights | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

### Final focal points

*Fast Starts*: Gran Canaria outscored Turk Telekom 106 to 71 in the first halves of their previous matchups this season. The visitors may have won the last three elimination games coming from behind, but they will not want to tempt fate again.

*Key Unit*: Turk Telekom scored 32 points on 22 possessions with Jerian Grant, [Erkan Yilmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/erkan-yilmaz/006372/), [Nate Sestina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nathan-sestina/011980/), Axel Bouteille and Tyrique Jones on the floor in their second matchup with Gran Canaria. Watch for that quintet and its effectiveness – or lack thereof – on Wednesday.

*Bench Factor*: [Tony Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tony-taylor/005850/), [Ferran Bassas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ferran-bassas/001607/) and [Vitor Benite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitor-benite/007128/) each had big nights off the bench for their respective teams in the two regular season games between Gran Canaria and Turk Telekom. It would not be surprising for a hero to rise off the bench.

*Balance*: Over their regular season matchups, 10 Gran Canaria players scored between 10 and 25 points. Only six players made it into double figures for Turk Telekom in a pair of losses. It will be interesting to see if both teams shorten their benches in the Finals or if they stick to the rotations that have gotten them this far.

*Adjustments*: Both [Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/can/lakovic-jaka/?season=U2022) and [Erdem Can](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/can-erdem/?season=U2022) made pretty stark adjustments between the first and second matchups between these two teams. How they approach a rematch with everything on the line will be fascinating.

EuroCup Final focal points

7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year: Erdem Can, Turk Telekom Ankara


 

Turk Telekom Ankara's Erdem Can has been rewarded for his impressive coaching performances this season by being voted the 2022-23 Coach of the Year by his fellow 7DAYS EuroCup head coaches.

 

In his first year as Turk Telekom boss, Can guided the team to a 13-5 regular-season record and has since led the side to the EuroCup Final following three come-from-behind wins in the playoffs. The Turkish club will visit Gran Canaria on Wednesday for a do-or-die showdown with a place in next season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague up for grabs.

 

The Coach of the Year award is among several trophies handed out to recognize the outstanding work achieved by some EuroCup participants during the 2022-23 EuroCup season. All 20 head coaches involved in this season's competition voted for the Coach of the Year honor. The Rising Star Trophy, also voted by the head coaches, was won for the second time by Aleksander Balcerowski of Gran Canaria. The All-EuroCup Teams and the 2022-23 MVP – for whom coaches, team captains, fans and media all vote – will be announced before the EuroCup Final.

 

Prior to this season, the 42-year-old Can had spent 10 years as an assistant, working under Neven Spahija (2012-13), Zeljko Obradovic (2013-20) and Igor Kokoskov (2020-21) at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, and under Quin Snyder (2021-22) at Utah of the NBA, before taking the Turk Telekom job. In his hometown of Ankara, where Can began his career as an assistant coach, he has utilized his vast experience to take Turk Telekom to the next level. Despite having had to integrate a whole host of new faces into the roster this season, Can has his team one step away from its first EuroLeague appearance since 1998.

With Turk Telekom Ankara on the brink of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, head coach Erdem Can has been rewarded for his impressive coaching performances this season by being named the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year.

Turk Telekom began the season with a surprise defeat to Paris Basketball before reeling off five straight wins – against Veolia Towers Hamburg, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv, Slask Wroclaw, Dolomiti Energia Trento and Promitheas Patras – as it improved to a 5-1 record and announced itself a major threat in this year's EuroCup. After a spell in which the team went 3-3 between Rounds 7 and 12, Turk Telekom ended the regular season strong with another 5-1 run, which allowed it to wrap up second spot in Group B.

 

Then, in the playoffs, Coach Can's team was up and down against Germani Brescia in the eighthfinals, with the lead changing hands throughout the contest. Brescia led at halftime, 36-38, but a convincing fourth-quarter performance allowed Turk Telekom to wrap up a 77-69 victory. The task at hand went up a notch in the quarterfinals, with ratiopharm Ulm leading 50-57 entering the final period, but a 36-19 quarter by Turk Telekom powered it to an 86-76 triumph. It looked as though the story was going to repeat itself in the semifinals, with Prometey Slobozhanske racing out to a 25-16 lead after the first quarter, but Coach Can ensured that his side kept its cool. Turk Telekom won the second quarter 13-25 to take a 38-41 halftime lead. Prometey edged the second half, 36-35, but Turk Telekom had done enough to book its place in the EuroCup Final, sparking scenes of jubilation at the final buzzer.

 

Can is the second Turkish coach to be named the EuroCup Coach of the Year, following the first-ever recipient of the award: Oktay Mahmuti of Benetton Treviso in 2009. This is also the second successive year that a coach from a Turkish club has earned this honor, as Dusan Alimpijevic of Frutti Extra Bursaspor was recognized for his team's EuroCup Final appearance in 2022. Aito Garcia Reneses is the only coach to have won the award twice, having done so with Gran Canaria in 2015 and ALBA Berlin in 2019.

 

The other previous winners were Ilias Zouros of Panellinios in 2010, Aleksandar Petrovic of Cedevita Zagreb in 2011, Jure Zdovc of Spartak St. Petersburg in 2012, Fotis Katsikaris of Uxue Bilbao Basket in 2013, Andrea Trinchieri of UNICS Kazan in 2014, Maurizio Buscaglia of Dolomiti Energia Trento in 2016, Pedro Martinez of Valencia Basket in 2017, Sasa Obradovic of Lokomotiv Kuban in 2018 and Zvezdan Mitrovic of AS Monaco in 2021.

Twenty teams started the 7DAYS EuroCup dreaming of playing in May. Eighteen of them have fallen by the wayside. One two remain – Gran Canaria and Turk Telekom Ankara – and they will duel on Wednesday to become the EuroCup champion and earn a berth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The winning team will capture the EuroCup crown for the first time in club history.

[**Gran Canaria (18-3) vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (16-5)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-turk-telekom-ankara/U2022/195/)

Gran Canaria had the best record in the regular season and has knocked out Frutti Extra Bursaspor, Paris Basketball and Joventut Badalona – in that order – in the playoffs. Coached by Jaka Lakovic, Granca has one of the deepest teams in the competition with seven players averaging at least 8 points per game, including two players who combined to win the last three EuroCup Rising Star Trophies: [Aleksander Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) (2021, 2023) and [Khalifa Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/khalifa-diop/008072/) (2022). 

Herbalife Gran Canaria, TURK TELEKOM ANKARA Top Plays from 04/05/2023 to 04/28/2023

Top Plays of Gran Canaria and Turk Telekom Ankara in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup playoffs

Turk Telekom reached the final by beating Group A winner Prometey Slobozhanske on the road in the semifinal. Before that, it hurdled Germani Brescia and ratiopharm Ulm, both at home, in the playoffs. Coach Erdem Can's squad has been led by Semifinals MVP [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) and Quarterfinals MVP [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/), with center [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) forming the third rib of a powerful trio.

This will be the third meeting between these teams this season after Granca swept their two Group B clashes. [Vitor Benite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitor-benite/007128/) scored 21 points in the [81-88 victory in the Turkish capital](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/turk-telekom-ankara-gran-canaria/U2022/66/) in December and [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/) went for 20 points in the [89-79 home win in March](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-turk-telekom-ankara/U2022/156/). Turk Telekom has not lost since.

EuroCup Final at a glance

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that Aleksander Balcerowski of Gran Canaria has been chosen as the 7DAYS EuroCup Rising Star for the 2022-23 season. Voted on by the EuroCup's head coaches, the EuroCup Rising Star Trophy recognizes the most outstanding player in the competition who was younger than 22 years of age on July 1 of the summer before the season started. 

2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Rising Star: Aleksander Balcerowski, Gran Canaria

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that [Aleksander Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) of Gran Canaria has been chosen as the 7DAYS EuroCup Rising Star for the 2022-23 season. Voted on by the EuroCup's head coaches, the EuroCup Rising Star Trophy recognizes the most outstanding player in the competition who was younger than 22 years of age on July 1 of the summer before the season started. 

For Balcerowski, who turned 22 in November, this is the second EuroCup Rising Star award after he also won it in 2021. It also marks the third consecutive year a Gran Canaria player is awarded this trophy. Juhann Begarin of Paris Basketball came in second in the voting.

The Rising Star Trophy is among the awards given in recognition of the EuroCup's finest each season for their efforts on the basketball court. The head coaches will also choose one of their peers as the EuroCup Coach of the Year. The All-7DAYS EuroCup teams and the season's MVP, for whom fans, team captains and media also voted, will be announced before Turk Telekom Ankara visits Gran Canaria in the 7DAYS EuroCup Final on Wednesday, May 3.

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that Aleksander Balcerowski of Gran Canaria has been chosen as the 7DAYS EuroCup Rising Star for the 2022-23 season. Voted on by the EuroCup's head coaches, the EuroCup Rising Star Trophy recognizes the most outstanding player in the competition who was younger than 22 years of age on July 1 of the summer before the season started.

Balcerowski helped Gran Canaria reach the EuroCup Finals for the second time in club history by averaging 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks for an average PIR of 10.8 in 21 appearances this season, despite playing fewer than 17 minutes per game. He ranked third in the competition in two-point accuracy at 72.9% and also knocked down 40.9% of his three-pointers. Balcerowski was the only player in the EuroCup averaging at least 1 three-point attempt per game to shoot better than 64.0% on twos and 40.0% on threes this season. Among Rising Star eligible players, Balcerowski ranked second in scoring (20.9), PIR (25.6) and blocks (2.4) on a per 40 minutes basis. 

Born in Swidnica, Poland, Balcerowski joined Gran Canaria's youth system in 2015 at the age of 14. On December 3, 2017, Balcerowski became the youngest Gran Canaria player to make his first-team debut; he was 17 years and 14 days old. He made his EuroCup debut against Tofas Bursa three days later. This is his fourth season in the competition and he played in the 2018-19 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, too. 

Balcerowski joins Bojan Dubljevic as the only two players to be chosen EuroCup Rising Star twice. Dubljevic received the award with Valencia Basket in 2013 and 2014. The list of Rising Star trophy winners also includes Milan Macvan of Hemofarm Vrsac in 2009, Victor Claver of Power Electronics Valencia in 2010, Donatas Motiejunas of Benetton Treviso in 2011, Jonas Valanciunas of Lietuvos Rytas in 2012, Kristaps Porzingis of Baloncesto Seville in 2015, Mateusz Ponitka of Stelmet Zielona Gora in 2016, Rolands Smits of Montakit Fuenlabrada in 2017, Dzanan Musa of Cedevita Zagreb in 2018, Martynas Echodas of Rytas Vilnius in 2019 and Khalifa Diop of Gran Canaria last season.

John Shurna, Gran Canaria: 'It's going to be a battle'

Olek Balcerowski, Gran Canaria: 'This is only the beginning'

2022-23 All-EuroCup Second Team

Michael Eric, Turk Telekom: 'You have to sacrifice to win at this level'

2022-23 All-EuroCup First Team

EuroCup Final focal points

7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year: Erdem Can, Turk Telekom Ankara

EuroCup Final at a glance

2022-23 Rising Star: Aleksander Balcerowski, Gran Canaria