Arda Turan: ‘I cried when Galatasaray drew 3-3 at Manchester United ... they are my biggest love'
The greatest Turkish player of a generation tells The National about the coaches he takes inspiration from and how he hopes Eyüpspor can be a launch pad to a bigger club
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Al Etihad
26-05-2025
- Al Etihad
EuroLeague basketball: Fenerbahce find Final Four glory in Abu Dhabi classic
27 May 2025 00:44 KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)The 2025 Final Four of the basketball's second-biggest event – the EuroLeague – will go down as a special one for various reasons, and not just because it was staged outside of Europe for the first time, with Abu Dhabi playing the neutral host to the top four clubs of the Türkiye fans, the Turkish Airlines-sponsored event saw Fenerbahce being crowned EuroLeague champions and after an eight-year wait for the club's second title. They were favourites on paper to win the title against Monaco, whom they beat 70-81 in a low-scoring final at the Etihad Arena on Sunday Monaco were no pushovers. Both finalists were responsible for knocking out two more illustrious Greek sides in the semi-finals – Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.'We were prepared to suffer, as I reminded the boys, before the match. And we had to work hard, man to man, quarter by quarter,' said coach Sarunas Jasikevičius, who incidentally became only the fourth player in history to win the EuroLeague both as a player and a coach; Sunday's feat adding to his four titles as a a satisfactory twist in the happy ending for the Turkish club was the fact that Nigel Hayes-Davis was adjudged Most Valuable Player, the American having fallen out of favour with Jasikevičius at their previous club, Barcelona. A season non-regular Hayes-Davis moved to Fenerbahce first and immediately notched the record for most points (50) scored in a game in his first season. But then Fenerbahce chose to bring in Jasikevičius as they coveted the EuroLeague title. And on Sunday, Jasikevičius admitted relations with the power forward sidelined had been frosty early in the season. 'After I arrived, we had a talk and Nigel told me what were the areas where he disagreed with my plans. And he was right. So I decided to change and now all is good,' the coach said absorbed early pressure as Monaco took a slender lead in the first quarter at 20-18. However, the Turkish side fought back for a 17-13 score in the second quarter and led 35-33 after the first half. The third quarter was even more keenly fought with Fenerbahce edging ahead 54-51 in the low-scoring encounter. But then Fenerbahce found an extra gear when it mattered, taking the fourth quarter by a 27-19 led the way with 23 points and nine rebounds, with Marko Guduric scoring 19, while Devon Hall and Wade Baldwin netted 13 apiece. Alpha Diallo paced Monaco with 19 points, Mike James scored 17, Matthew Strazel had 13 and Daniel Theis contributed 12. While the coach was his usual animated self as he called out instructions, players rallied around the calm Hayes-Davis, who remained non-fussed in expressing his delight at becoming the MVP. 'I thought I'd be probably crying or something like that, but I've just played it over so much in my mind that, you know, in life if you do something a thousand million times, it's not that exciting on the millionth time. And I feel like that's what I'm a victim of right now,' Hayes-Davis said, words struggling to come out of his the new-found harmony between the duo showed as Hayes-Davis explained the team's strategy - quoting from his coach's playbook - to neutralise Monaco's 'physicality' in their approach. And then in a dramatic moment before Hayes-Davis left the news conference, he poured a full bottle of water over the coach in a moment of light-hearted celebration. The Lithuanian coach took it on the chin amid loud cheers from the back where the support staff were seated.
Al Etihad
21-05-2025
- Al Etihad
Have a ball with EuroLeague and top international DJs
22 May 2025 02:26 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Basketball fever has gripped Abu Dhabi as the city prepares to host the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four this for Friday's semifinals between Fenerbahce vs Panathinaikos (7pm) and Olympiacos vs Monaco (10pm) at the Etihad Arena, as well as Sunday's final are all but sold you've missed out, you can still have a ball at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague finals - the world's premier club-level junior basketball place at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City from May 22 to 25, the finals will welcome eight elite teams: Dubai Basketball, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, FC Barcelona, Mega SuperBet Belgrade, Overtime Elite, Pole France INSEP Paris, Real Madrid, and Zalgiris field is split into two groups, with Group A including Mega Belgrade (Istanbul champs), FC Barcelona (Ulm champs), Milan, and B features Overtime Elite, Pole France INSEP Paris (Belgrade champs), Real Madrid, and the final buzzer has gone and you're in the mood to celebrate, join the EuroLeague after-party with Mahmut Orhan at WHITE Abu Dhabi on Yas Island on May world-famous Turkish DJ and producer will be bringing his signature blend of deep house and groovy indie to a world-class stage boasting immersive visuals. The party doesn't end there. On Saturday, May 24, internationally acclaimed DJ Aaron Sevilla will be playing a sunset gig at Fahid Beach Club from 5pm till late, bringing his fusion of Afro-Latin rhythms, powerful percussion and soulful vocals to these shores. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
13-05-2025
- Al Etihad
Top middleweight contender Robert Whittaker to face off against Reinier de Ridder at Abu Dhabi Fight Night on July 26
13 May 2025 22:05 ABU DHABI (WAM) UFC returns to the UAE capital this summer with a blockbuster event set for July 26 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. In collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the world's premier mixed martial arts organisation is bringing a thrilling lineup headlined by a high-stakes middleweight clash between former champion Robert Whittaker and fast-rising contender Reinier de Ridder. Australia's Whittaker (27-8-0), the fifth-ranked middleweight challenger and one of the most respected fighters in the division, will look to reaffirm his elite status. Known for signature victories over the likes of Yoel Romero, Jared Cannonier, and Marvin Vettori among others, Whittaker aims to bounce back into title contention with a statement win in the desert. Standing in his way is the surging Reinier de Ridder (20-2-0), a Dutch phenomenom, who has taken the UFC by storm since debuting in late 2024. De Ridder made headlines after handing previously unbeaten Bo Nickal his first professional loss, showcasing his world-class grappling and finishing prowess. With momentum on his side, de Ridder is eager to continue climbing the ranks by toppling the former champion. The fight card also features several compelling matchups across multiple weight classes: Nikita Krylov (30-10-0, Russia) returns to the octagon to face Bogdan Guskov (17-3-0, Uzbekistan) in a light heavyweight showdown, as Guskov looks to extend his winning streak. In the flyweight division, Ramazan Temirov (19-3-0, Uzbekistan) squares off against Kazakhstan's Asu Almabayev (21-3-0) in a contest that promises speed and high-level technique. Also in the light heavyweight division, Turkish knockout artist Ibo Aslan (14-2-0) takes on Billy Elekana (7-2-0) from Las Vegas in a matchup that has 'Fight of the Night' potential. With a mix of veteran names and rising stars, UFC Abu Dhabi is shaping up to be a can't-miss summer spectacle for fight fans around the globe.
