MERSIN (Türkiye) - As the dust settles on CIMSA CBK Mersin's greatest ever night after sealing a maiden EuroCup Women title, it's time to reflect on their bumpy but ultimately thrilling and landmark journey.
Yes, while it turned out just fine in the end, it wasn't exactly a simple ride to the top of the EuroCup Women podium.
Taking a second chance to dream
Push the rewind button to the first few months of the season and Mersin were in disarray. Having reached the title game at EuroLeague Women's Final Six last season, hopes were high they could book a return to Zaragoza for the big show.
However, the wheels came crashing off during the First Round as the team struggled to find any form and rhythm, exiting the competition with a hugely disappointing 1-5 record. It was something of a EuroLeague Women nightmare, but EuroCup Women would give them the opportunity to experience altogether sweeter dreams.
When you get given a second chance, you have to take it.
Dealing with a coaching change at a critical time
Even for a club who has never been shy of making changes, they had a big choice to make after their EuroLeague Women setback. They stuck with the highly respected Georgios Dikaioulakos and the Greek coach did get the team back on track. But right in the middle of the Quarter-Finals, the playcaller and club parted ways.
Mersin ended up with experience replacing experience. They went for Ekrem Memnun to finish the job, a coach who took Galatasaray to historic EuroLeague Women glory and had not long stepped down as Turkish national team playcaller. It proved a masterstroke as he delivered another historic chapter for Turkish basketball.
Adding fuel for the run-in with Allen and Iagupova
Heading into the crunch Quarter-Finals tie with Panathinaikos A.C. they decided to bolster the roster with Lindsay Allen and Alina Iagupova. And, while the guards had only negligible impacts initially, it was ultimately the displays of Allen in the Finals that helped them to realise their dreams and get their hands on the coveted silverware.
She may not have been the main headline-maker, but her 20 points and 9 assists in the second leg was one of the main reasons that Mersin were able to outlast Athinaikos Qualco on aggregate. It came after a super solid 16 points and 6 assists in the first matchup.
Meanwhile, Iagupova came up with some nice cameos and was so often was the spark during in-game runs for her team, who fed off her trademark aggressive and energetic plays slicing to the hoop.
Resilience on the road
While the magnificent home crowd of more than 7,000 roared their team over the line on an unforgettable night when they lifted the trophy, as well as in previous stages, it was the team's ability to dig out wins on their travels that proved to be priceless.
In fact, Mersin finished the season a perfect 5 out of 5 on the road. Always winning the first leg and even if it was by some seriously tight margins, it made a statement that this was a team transformed since their EuroLeague Women struggles.
It had heart. It had grit. It was potentially a title-winning DNA being built.
Winning by four points at Panathinaikos in the Quarter-Finals, by two points at BLMA in the Semi-Finals and by five points in the Finals at Athinaikos meant no slip-ups and having to overturn any major deficits at home. It was the foundation for success.
Brilliant Burke the unstoppable force
As Mersin gathered momentum, a large chunk of their title hopes were clearly being shaped by the form of Kennedy Burke. Installed as the number one team in the Quarter-Finals edition of the Power Rankings, the Turkish club suddenly had expectations being placed on them.
But specifically, on the shoulders of their stellar-talented leader. Her response was majestic as she firstly cleaned up the February-March MVP award off the back of a string of standout displays.
But what would happen in the Finals?
Yes, more of the same and as Mersin squeezed past Athinaikos, there was only ever going to be one baller heading for the prestigious MVP award. The newly naturalized Turkish national team star did the business and took the adulation of the home crowd.
Teamwork wins titles
As outstanding as Burke was, Mersin also showed that it's teamwork that wins titles. After those early days when the connections and chemistry was questionable, they came together and got it done.
They had to ride the roller-coaster, deal with injuries to premier ballers such as Julie Vanloo and Luisa Geiselsoder who missed multiple games.
They had the likes of Laura Juskaite who was a rock throughout. The Lithuanian was arguably the most consistent player in her levels of performance alongside Burke. Fellow Lithuanian Egle Sventoraite, as well as the likes of Busra Akbas - very much unsung heroes in the team context.
Most importantly, each and every single member of this Mersin roster, including the coaches and the staff have their names written into the history books. And, nobody will ever forget the eventful season when they collected their first ever European trophy.
FIBA