Last week, the Istanbul Bahçeşehir basketball team found themselves facing elimination from the Eurocup. Cedevita Olimpija visited the “Sinan Erdem Dome,” where Bahçeşehir was favored to move on to the semifinals. However, by the second quarter, the “dragons” had established a 19-point lead (30:11), prompting Turkish coach Dejan Radonjić to realize that the game was slipping away from them.

That’s when the home team’s comeback began, led by Montenegrin national player Marko Simonović. His entry into the game shifted the momentum, allowing Bahçeşehir to cut the deficit in half before halftime. In the end, they triumphed with a score of (85:81), securing their spot in the semifinals. Simonović was instrumental in this victory, finishing with 20 points, four rebounds, three steals, and an impressive index rating of 27, earning him the title of most valuable player of the quarterfinals.

“It was a significant game for us, and we couldn’t afford to make mistakes. We didn’t start well, but we picked up our game later on. Ultimately, we won and progressed to the semi-finals, which is what we aimed for,” Simonović remarked.

Cedevita arrived in Istanbul after defeating another Turkish team, Simonović’s previous club, Beşiktaş, in the playoffs.

“Cedevita is a solid team; they’ve already beaten both Beşiktaş and Red Star before facing us. They had a stronger start, but I believe we performed better in the second half, especially in the final quarter,” he added.

Simonović transferred to Bahçeşehir from Beşiktaş last season. He averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in the Eurocup and 8.3 points with 5.2 rebounds in the Turkish championship.

“I’m satisfied with my performance, but there’s always room for improvement. It’s a long season filled with ups and downs, but what truly matters is our teamwork. We have a winning mentality, and I intend to maintain it until the end,” Simonović stated, mentioning he would decide on his future after the season as he is under a one-year contract with Bahçeşehir.

This summer, Simonović was welcomed by Dejan Radonjić, who has been coaching since December 2023. Under Radonjić’s guidance, Bahçeşehir secured second place in the FIBA Europe Cup last season and aims for the EuroCup title this year.

“Radonjić and I collaborate well. We understand our roles and responsibilities clearly—there’s not too much complexity involved. That’s key to our success,” Simonović explained.

With Bahçeşehir advancing to the semi-finals, they will next face Gran Canaria. The series kicks off next week, with matches set to be played until one team secures two victories. These teams have already clashed in the group stage earlier in the season, each winning on their home court.

“This time is different because it’s a two-win format. We’re aware that Gran Canaria is a formidable opponent, proven by their performance over the past few years. It won’t be easy, but we’ll give our best effort and hope to reach the finals,” said Simonović.

Bahçeşehir is regarded as a title contender and aims for a spot in the Euroleague next season.

“Our ambitions are always high. We have a talented team and have demonstrated we can compete with anyone. We have home-court advantage, and we aim to capitalize on that,” he affirmed.

Three years ago, Bahçeşehir clinched the FIBA Europe Cup. The club has shown marked improvement in recent years in both results and organizational structure, with aspirations to qualify for the Euroleague.

“The organization is at a Euroleague level, possibly among the best I’ve experienced, aside from the United States. The club has lofty ambitions, though it lacks historical depth and a large fan base. However, I believe that with the current programs and investment, that can change over time. Naturally, the path to the Euroleague is challenging, but I believe this club has a bright future if it continues on this trajectory,” Simonović concluded.

It’s too early to discuss Eurobasket.

Marko Simonović recently celebrated his selection to the European Championship with the Montenegrin national team.

For the third consecutive time, and the fifth overall, Montenegro has qualified for the continental championship set to take place from August 27 to September 14 in Latvia, Poland, Finland, and Cyprus.

“The national team has seen considerable success and achievement over the past four to five years. The camaraderie among the players is fantastic, and it’s always a pleasure to play alongside them,” Simonović noted.

It’s still too early to set championship goals; the draw has yet to occur, scheduled for March 27 in Riga.

Our team is expected to draw from the third pot, alongside teams like Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic. This means that Boško Radović’s squad will certainly avoid playing in Katowice, as Poland has chosen Iceland as its group rival instead.

“It’s difficult to make statements now. Once the details become clearer and preparations begin, we can establish our objectives. I hope we continue performing well,” Simonović concluded.

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