betprepare.com

Banvit already spent all their credits

Aliağa's game is bad, they're one of the prime candidaties for the relegation, and during the week they've brought in veteran Asim Pars

The smaller team out of Izmir, Aliağa Petkim, are one of those who left the worst impression in the preparation period and in the three Cup games, and they're entering the new season with a lot of fear. Last week they played against Usak at the Cup's opening, scored only 54 points and lost with 10 difference. Sean Marshall, the wing center, was the only one who scored 9 points. They dominated the rebound, caught 20 offense balls, but even with that much attack they only scored 54 points. After that Galatasaray beat them with 17 points of difference, and Besiktas with 22.

Coach Hakan Demir has tons of things to worry about, and some of them he will try to solve by bringing Asim Pars, the center veteran born in 1976. behind whom is  a rich career with seasons in Ulker, Efes and Fener. But it's questionable just how much he can help repair the team's image. Last season he played for Erdemir who bankrupted, and in 24 matches he played an average of 21.5 minutes and scored only 4.5 points with 4 rebounds. Now he's coming in with no preparations done, and it's questionable how much will he lift Aliağa's level who at this point seem like one of the biggest candidates for the relegation.


To make things even worse, the fixture wasn't kind to them at the beginning of the season. After Banvit they're off to Selcuka, before Galatasaray and Ferenbahce, and then they're up for a local derby of Izmir against Karsiyaka, after which the away game in Trabzon is up... This is Hakan Demir's biggest trial.


Their today's opponent has completely different issues. Banvit selected the members of their team for the Euroliga qualifications, their goal was to make it to the elite. They brought Dimitris Itoudis on the bench, a man who has been earning titles for years as the assistant of Zeljko Obradovic, but his solo career started off desperately. They've lost the semi-finals against Oostende and Drew Gordon missed the shots for overtime. Disappointed as they were, they arrived to Gazaintep for three Cup games, were in for an even greater shock, and after -18 against Karsiyaka, they had no chances to pass prior to their last day there. Itoudis clearly was looking for a maximum match against Gaziantep, although it meant nothing, but the 77-60 won't help wash away the bitter taste left after the official intro matches of the season.


Moreover, Itoudis arranged a team with lots of foreigners - Mejia, Simmons, Prepelic, Gordon, Davis, Rowland. Since most of them have dual citizenships, they can still be in the line-up. The problem is the bad home rotation which is made up of Veyseloglu, Kuqo, Cantitiz, Uluso and Özer, a few players Itoudis can rely on.


In the first five rounds their fixture is relatively easy (away with Aliağa and Türk Telekom, home games against Tofas, Gaziantep and Selcuk) and each gaffe would additionally worsen the atmosphere and bring on pressure. Between those meetings they will be playing in the Eurokup as well, so a good start to the season is extremely important, and today they will head for their maximum game. Quality-wise they're quite above Aliağa, and now they only need to prove that on the court.

Aliaga lost the last pre-season game in Kosovo against Liria 73-68, and then had 3 cup defeats scoring 54 against Usak, 63 against Galatasaray, and 63 against Besiktas. It is a very low-key team, limited in all positions and they will have many problems as the wounded Banvit are coming. Banvit have gambled away their Euroleague the Cup. They played in Gazaianteb and didn't make it to the quarter-finals, losing -18 after Karsiyaka. Even though they didn't have a chance of going through, they played a great game against the home team in 3rd round and won 77-60 This is by far a better team than Aliaga, and I expect Banvit to be up for the game from the start. Itoudis is an inexperienced coach, especially in terms of his individual work, as he was Obradovic's assistant in Panathinaikos until recently. Nobody wants to have another defeat after 2 shocks and i doubt they will let Aliaga get over 70 points, and since the rotation of Turkish players is rather slim, the overall under is also an option. Banvit's win should not be in question, in any chance...