By Muhammed Enes Calli
ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Efes seek to retain the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title as they will take part in the Final Four for the fifth time with three wins in a row.
The Turkish side has also managed to qualify for the Final Four twice in the FIBA and ULEB tournaments in the past.
The Istanbul team, which secured their first championship in the history of the EuroLeague last season, also came second in 2019 and third in 2000 and 2001.
In their first Final Four in the 1999-2000 season, Anadolu Efes lost to the Greek side Panathinaikos 81-71 in Thessaloniki before defeating Spanish team Barcelona 75-69 in the third-place game.
They also competed in the 2001 FIBA SuproLeague Final Four, the most important FIBA organization at that time.
On the first day of the Final Four, Anadolu Efes were defeated by Panathinaikos 74-66, then beat Russia's CSKA Moscow to take the third spot.
Anadolu Efes ended their 17-year Final Four drought in the 2018-2019 season as they qualified for the final after eliminating another Turkish side, Fenerbahce Beko, 92-73 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
But they lost to Russian team CSKA Moscow 91-83 in the final to secure the second spot.
Anadolu Efes were crowned the 2021 EuroLeague champions for the first time, defeating Spanish opponents Barcelona 86-81 in the final held in Cologne.
- Battle in Belgrade to reclaim title
Anadolu Efes booked EuroLeague Final Four for the third consecutive season and will fight against Spanish teams Real Madrid and Barcelona along with Greece's Olympiakos to become the biggest in Europe.
In the Final Four clashes, Anadolu Efes will take on Olympiacos and Barcelona will play against rivals Real Madrid.
The 2022 Final Four will be held in Belgrade, with the semifinals on May 19, while the title match will be played on May 21.
Built in the year 2004, the Stark Arena, which has a capacity of nearly 15,500 spectators, will be the Final Four venue.
- Eye on 3rd European trophy
Anadolu Efes will take to the court to win the third European Cup in the club's history.
They won the first European trophy in Turkish basketball history in 1996 under head coach Aydın Ors with the lifting of the 1996 FIBA Korac Cup.
Anadolu Efes finished the 2021-2022 regular season in sixth place with 16 wins and 12 losses.
They qualified for the Final Four after defeating Italy's AX Armani Exchange Milan in the playoffs.
- Shane Larkin, Vasilije Micic lead Anadolu Efes to Final Four
US-born Turkish national team player Shane Larkin, who was named in the 2021-22 All-EuroLeague first-team squad, will be Anadolu Efes' key player in their fight for the trophy.
The 29-year-old player has produced 14.6 points and 5.3 assists per game this season.
Serbian point guard Vasilije Micic, who was awarded the 2021-2022 Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy, will be another vital figure for the Turkish team.
Micic, 28, became the top scorer of the season with 18.2 points per game.