May 26, 2013
Club Profile 2012-13: Galatasaray Medical Park
Galatasaray Medical Park
2011-12 Results
Euroleague: Top 16
Turkish League: Semifinalist
Turkish Cup: Semifinalist
Fresh off an unforgottable 2011-12 season, Galatasaray Medical Park returns to the Eurocup ready to challenge for its first continental title. Last season, Galatasaray survived the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Qualifying Rounds, downing Lietuvos Rytas in the go-ahead showdown in Vilnius, and had a strong performance that brought it all the way to the Top 16 - beating both Euroleague finalists, CSKA and Olympiacos, in the process. Back home, Galatasaray won the Turkish League regular season but Besiktas Milangaz stood on its way to success in the semifinals. It was a welcome revival for a club that is responsible for having introduced basketball to Turkey and at one point won 15 national titles in 43 years. Started in 1905, Galatasaray is one of the oldest sports clubs in the world and takes its name from Galatasaray Lycee, a school founded in 1481. A teacher at the school brought basketball to Turkey in 1911. The club's basketball section opened in the early 1930s and found instant success, winning three consecutive Istanbul League titles from 1933 to 1936. Once World War II ended, Galatasaray kept dominating Turkish basketball with 16 Istanbul League titles and 11 Turkish championship trophies between 1940 and 1966. The club also competed well continentally, reaching the Euroleague eighthfinals in 1961 and 1964. Another Turkish League title in 1969 was followed by a 15-year drought until Galatasaray had its last spate of dominance, winning three more national titles between 1985 and 1990, the last of its Turkish League crowns. Galatasaray eight consecutive Korac Cup appearances from 1993 and 2001, reaching the eighthfinals in 2000. Its current resurgence started in 2008, when Galatasaray showed it was no average Eurocup newcomer. With a memorable shot by Cuneyt Erden, Galatasaray reached the Eurocup semifinals before losing against eventual champion DKV Joventut. In 2010-11, Galatasaray reached the Turkish League finals, losing against Fenerbahce Ulker. Its solid performance in 2011-12 turn Galatasaray into one of the favourites to win the Eurocup title this season.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Eurocupbasketball.com
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