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

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

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.

2022-23 Rising Star: Aleksander Balcerowski, Gran Canaria

Look back at all the action in the Semifinals by checking out the best photos of the week!

Photos of the week, Semifinals

It is not often that three players reach a European competition semifinal together with different teams. John Shurna, Andrew Albicy and Oliver Stevic just did that, and now they've helped Gran Canaria reach the 7DAYS EuroCup Final.

Third time's a charm for Shurna, Albicy, Stevic

It is not often that three players reach a European competition semifinal together with different teams. John Shurna, Andrew Albicy and Oliver Stevic just did that, and now [they've helped Gran Canaria reach the 7DAYS EuroCup Final](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-joventut-badalona/U2022/194/).

Shurna, Albicy and Stevic first made it to the EuroCup Semifinals with MoraBanc Andorra in 2019. ALBA Berlin stood in Andorra's way to the final, sweeping the best-of-three playoff series. It took a 102-97 home win in the German capital and finished the job in Andorra, 81-87, despite 20 points and 6 assists from Albicy.

All three players ended up together playing for Gran Canaria and returning to the EuroCup Semifinals in the 2020-21 season. Gran Canaria did not have the home-court advantage in its playoffs series against AS Monaco, which took Game 1 at home, 82-77, and grabbed a win at Gran Canaria Arena, 74-76, to make it to the Finals and eventually win the title, downing UNICS Kazan.

This time, Gran Canaria had the home-court advantage and these three players knew it was a great opportunity to erase bad memories. Shurna led the team in the eighthfinals and the quarterfinals. He finished the semifinal game with 5 points, 2 rebounds and a PIR of 4.

Third time is a charm for Andrew Albicy of Gran Canaria!

Albicy reaches his first 7DAYS EuroCup Final!

"I have been fortunate to reach the EuroCup Semifinals twice, along with Andrew Albicy and Oliver Stevic: with Andorra in 2018, we lost against ALBA Berlin; and with Gran Canaria in 2021, we lost against Monaco," Shurna said in his EuroCup blog earlier this week. "We have to stay focused on the game ahead because it is going to be a really tough one. I am sure our fans will give us a big boost."

Stevic barely stepped on the court for 3 minutes, but he had time to draw a shooting foul and make both free-throw attempts. Albicy had a stellar performance, finishing the game with 17 points on 6-of-6 free throw shooting from 7 fouls drawn for a PIR of 19. He buried a critical three-pointer and added a pair of free throws for a 79-70 Gran Canaria lead with 2:28 left. Somehow, Joventut returned to the game but Albicy was able to celebrate in the end. 

"It was a tough game, but we stuck together. We had a game plan and did it correctly. We were a little bit scared at the end of the game but did our job," Albicy said, pointing out that his semifinals curse was broken. "I am very happy because it is my third semifinal and finally I go to the final. Finally!"

Albicy, Shurna and Stevic are now set to play the EuroCup final against Turk Telekom Ankara. Their experience will be very valuable and all three players have been around the competition for a long time. Shurna needs just 3 points to become the 23rd player to reach 1,000 in the competition. He ranks 17th in three-point shots made (151), but only three players above him have a better percentage (43.8% 3FG). Albicy ranks second all-time in assists (515) and fifth in steals (141). Stevic is fifth in rebounds (503). 

Gran Canaria v Joventut Badalona (2023-04-26T19:00:00.000Z)

Jerian Grant, Tyrique Jones and Axel Bouteille combined for a PIR of 63 to lead Turk Telekom Ankara to a 74-76 road win against Prometey Slobozhanske in the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals!

 Turk Telekom's Big Three delivers again 

Turk Telekom Ankara had very well-defined roles all season, and the semifinals showdown against Prometey Slobozhanske was no exception. Its main players led Turk Telekom to a 74-76 road win against Prometey Slobozhanske to reach the 7DAYS EuroCup Final for the first time.

[Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/) has the team's primary floor general all season and proved why on Wednesday at Arena Riga. Grant led the winners with 19 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, 8 fouls drawn and a PIR of 20. Telekom led 41-48 early in the second half when three different Prometey players – Illia Sydorov, Oleksandr Lypovyy and Gian Clavell – each struck from downtown. In response, Grant did not hesitate, scoring 8 quick points and burying a huge triple at the shot-clock buzzer that kept Turk Telekom out of trouble, 50-56. 

Grant is not the only Turk Telekom player always ready to hit tough shots. [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) scored 12 of his 16 points after the break, finishing the game with 4 three-pointers in 7 tries, 8 rebounds and a team-high PIR of 22. Bouteille made sure to hit the number of shots required to make his team get an opportunity to win the game down the stretch. 

Bouteille and Grant are the team's main creators, but [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) balances the team's offense just by being a great finisher around the rim, and the team's main defensive anchor. Jones had a double-double against Prometey, 11 points and 14 rebounds, and amassed a PIR of 21. He has been a 59.3% free throw shooter this season but hit 5 of 7 in the semifinals, hitting 1 of 2 with 11.6 seconds left to fix the final score. 

Grant, Jones, Bouteille: Turk Telekom's Big Three!

Grant, Bouteille and Jones have been rock-solid all-season. Turk Telekom is the only team with three players averaging a PIR of 18.0 or better. Grant ranks first (18.7 PIR), averaging 14.8 points and 6.2 assists. Bouteille (18.0 PIR) leads the team in scoring (17.8 ppg.) on 44.8% from downtown and 88.9% from the foul line this season. Jones (18.5 PIR) averages 12.5 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds. 

The best thing that can be said about Turk Telekom is that despite having its roles so well-defined, any player can step up in crunch time, and that was shown against Prometey. The hosts went on an 8-0 run to take a 74-73 lead heading into the final minute. Point guard [Tony Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tony-taylor/005850/), one of the most experienced players in the team, buried the go-ahead mid-range jumper with 31.4 seconds left. The guests' strong defense made the difference down the stretch. 

"As I said from the beginning, I am not naming one player; we are a team. So, every single one needs to give everything, whatever is needed," Turk Telekom head coach Erdem Can said after the game. "It is not one name because the whole season, it has been the team's work." 

Grant, who was exultant after the game, also pointed out that Turk Telekom's initials are the  "T" of team. 

"It was a total team effort. You see, down the stretch, different guys made different plays and we came out on top," Grant said. "One more game! We have 40 more minutes! Forty more minutes!" 

Turk Telekom's Big Three delivers again 

Prometey Slobozhanske v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-04-26T16:00:00.000Z)

[Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) shined in leading Turk Telekom Ankara to [a 74-76 road win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-turk-telekom-ankara/U2022/193/) at Prometey Slobozhanske on Wednesday and his role in that historic victory also earned him the honor of EuroCup Semifinals MVP. The veteran forward amassed 16 points and 8 rebounds in the do-or-die victory. He made 2 of 3 two-pointers, 4 of 7 threes and dished 2 assists. Bouteille's PIR of 22 was the highest among all winning players in the semifinals and that made him Turk Telekom's second straight MVP after Jerian Grant captured the honors for the quarterfinals. 

The highest PIR of the semifinals belonged to Joventut Badalona's [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/), who recorded a 23 in their loss at Gran Canaria. Feliz scored 21 points and dished 6 assists. Four more players reached PIRs of at least 20 in the quarterfinals. Turk Telekom center [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) went for 11 points and 14 rebounds for a PIR of 21. Gran Canaria's [Nicolas Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/), Turk Telekom's [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/) and Prometey's [Ondrej Balvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ondrej-balvin/002644/) all had PIRs of 20. Brussino tallied 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists; Grant scored 19 points and dished 6 assists and Balvin totaled 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. 

Axel Bouteille shined in leading Turk Telekom Ankara to a 74-76 road win at Prometey Slobozhanske on Wednesday and his role in that historic victory also earned him the honor of EuroCup Semifinals MVP.

Axel Bouteille | Semifinals MVP | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

### Individual leaders: Tyrique Jones of Turk Telekom, 14 rebounds

No player scored more points in the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals than Joventut Badalona's Andres Feliz, who netted 21 in his team's loss at Gran Canaris. Tyrique Jones of Turk Telekom was this phase's top rebounder with 14 boards in the road win at Prometey. Three players dished 6 assists in Wednesday’s games: Feliz, AJ Slaughter of Gran Canaria, and Jerian Grant of Turk Telekom. Caleb Agada topped the steals charts for the semis with 3. Khalifa Diop of Gran Canaria blocked 3 shots, which were the most of the phase. The lone double-double of the semifinals came from Jones, who posted 11 points and 14 rebounds. 

Semifinals MVP: Axel Bouteille, Turk Telekom

Congratulations to Garikoitz Garnica, who is the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home) winner for the Semifinals! His team CUT COPY MUSIC posted a score of 181.9.

Eman's team featured the following lineup: team captain Tyrique Jones, Axel Bouteille and Jerian Grant, all of Turk Telekom Ankara, Andres Feliz of Joventut Badalona, and Ondrej Balvin of Prometey Slobozhanske as starters; Gian Clavell also of Prometey as the sixth man; Nico Brussino of Gran Canaria and three more Prometey players, Oleksandr Lypovyy, D.J. Stephens and Ivan Tkachenko as bench players; and Can Erdem of Turk Telekom as head coach. The prize for finishing first is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2023-24 season!

Antreas Apostolakos stays atop the overall standings. His team Andy cup1 is ahead of everyone else with 3,673.35 fantasy points.

Trades are now open for the final. From now on, unlimited trades are allowed before each round until the end of the season, and as always, you can also trade your head coach.

The final between Gran Canaria and Turk Telekom is scheduled on May 3, and thus marks the next round's deadline.

Try to improve your teams and challenge for more prized at the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, powered by Ardu Prime!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Semifinals winner!

Gran Canaria needed a team effort to beat Joventut Badalona 89-86 in the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals on Wednesday. Nearly everybody stepped up, and that allowed Gran Canaria to grab its 12th consecutive home victory.

Gran Canaria needed a team effort to beat Joventut Badalona 89-86 in the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals on Wednesday. Nearly everybody stepped up, and that allowed Gran Canaria to grab its 12th consecutive home victory.

Eleven players, everyone but up-and-coming talent Jovan Kljajic, took the court against Joventut and everyone scored. Even the player who saw the least playing time, veteran big man Oliver Stevic, scored a pair of free throws. Andrew Albicy led the way with 17 points. Nico Brussino added 14, making 7-of-8 free throws in the final 30 seconds, and Vitor Benite had 13 in less than 17 minutes.

Gran Canaria finished the game with 3 blocked shots, 5 steals and 33 fouls drawn. On the other hand, Joventut had no blocks, 1 steal and 26 fouls drawn. That allowed Gran Canaria to go to the foul line more often. The hosts made 32 of 38 free throw attempts (84.2%) and Joventut only downed 19 of 25 (76%). 

Six Gran Canaria players had a double-digit PIR, led by Brussino, who amassed a PIR of 20. Even though in the end it was a 3-point game, the PIR difference between the teams was significant. Gran Canaria finished the game with a PIR of 106 and Joventut amassed a PIR of 77.

Game News

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Gran Canaria enjoyed contributions all over the roster

Khalifa Diop 2- Gran Canaria (photo Miquel Henriquez Cruz - Gran Canaria) - EC22