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FMV Isik Erenkoy takes EuroLeague Academy Tournament in Istanbul

The EuroLeague Academy Tournament Istanbul Final Four crowned the first winner of the competition in the Turkish Metropolis on Wednesday. With Sinan Guler looking on, FMV Isik Erenkoy celebrated winning the title at Metro Energy Arena Istanbul.

Local Turkish Airlines EuroLeague sides Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Anadolu Efes partnered with the EuroLeague Academy in this venture and together organized a competition that featured more than 200 children on 16 teams from different schools. The assistance of Fenerbahce and Efes proved their dedication to working with their communities and growing the sport of basketball in Istanbul and helped make the tournament such a success.

Wednesday saw the semifinals played in the morning before Eyuboglu Camlica and FMV Isik Erenkoy met in the championship game in the afternoon. Before the title game, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul star Sinan Guler attended and showed his support.

"It is very important for Euroleague to reach out to the communities and start a grass roots program." Guler said at the event. "It is one thing for the kids to come to the arena and see the EuroLeague games live, but for them to be part of this excitement and realise their potential it is great to see. I know many players have their own grass roots programs and for Euroleague to join this cause helps a lot. I know it's just the first step, but maybe 10 years down the line we will see one of these kids play in the EuroLeague."

During the season, the participants not only played competitive basketball and had fun, but they also had opportunities to meet EuroLeague players and ambassadors. The competition featured both boys and girls with the aim to promote the values of sport, such as inclusion, teamwork and respect towards other participants including teammates, referees and opponents.

EuroLeague Academy, the grassroots brand of Euroleague Basketball, is focused on the development of youth tournaments across various cities in Europe. The initiative was launched in April and has already featured tournaments in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Tel Aviv and Athens.

Euroleague Basketball (EB) is a global leader in the sports and entertainment business, devoted to running the top European competitions of professional basketball clubs under a unique and innovative organizational model. Owned and administered by some of the most successful and historic clubs in the world, EB manages and organizes the continent’s two premier men’s basketball competitions, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup, as well as the sport’s premier under-18 showcase, the EB Adidas Next Generation Tournament.

The EB competitions bring the elite of European basketball to all five continents and to the entire sports community through the OTT platform EuroLeague TV. EB also organizes a series of community and educational programs. Its ground-breaking corporate social responsibility program One Team features 40 clubs that have already made a difference in the lives of over 16,000 participants. Its Sports Business MBA trains future professionals in sports management.

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