He will undoubtedly ruminate on the two free throws missed by Cedi Osman, in the last seconds of the last quarter, for a good while. Turkey then had a two-point lead and two free throws to shoot, plus possession behind, twelve seconds from time…
The rest is Rudy Gobert’s basket, the extension and the final victory of the Blues. Inevitably, Ergin Ataman, the Turkish coach, was shot after this unlikely setback.
“I really don’t know what to say,” did he declare following the meeting. “I am so upset and sad. I have nothing polite to say, sorry. I don’t remember having experienced a match like that. Everyone is in shock. We lost a game in overtime when we were leading by ten points. (eight points ahead at the end of the third quarter). “
There were therefore these last poorly managed seconds which allowed Gobert and company to come back to the wire. The last possession of the match, the one to still hope, will also be missed, with a lost ball, intercepted by Terry Tarpey…
“It is without doubt the most morally difficult defeat of my career, in 26 years. Basketball is a strange game, which sometimes brings happiness and sometimes unhappiness. This is the most painful defeat of my career. We were so close to victory for the Turkish people. We are all disappointed. “
