“These finals are the most exciting games of the past three seasons.”
That’s what Tahir Bakhshiyev, head coach of the Azerbaijan men’s national basketball team, told Idman.biz while commenting on the final series of the Azerbaijan Basketball League.
The experienced coach praised both teams, Neftchi and Sabah, for their competitive spirit:
“Neftchi managed to level the series after trailing 0-2. Sabah, on the other hand, plays in European competitions and is the two-time defending national champion. They have good coaches and strong players. Neftchi has had a great season and built their best roster in recent years. They also have a real chance at winning the title. Even in the games they lost, the point difference wasn’t large.”
According to Bakhshiyev, fatigue has started to play a role in the later games:
“Neftchi played more matches than their opponent and had a tough road to the finals. Still, they performed well. I’d like to highlight Kamran Mammadov and Amil Hamzayev. Amil has united the team around a common goal and displayed excellent leadership as captain. Sabah also has standout players—among the locals, I’d mention Shirzad Shirzadov. One of Sabah’s biggest issues right now is that Ender Poladkhanli is sidelined due to injury.
If you had asked me before the finals, I would have given Sabah a 70% chance of winning. But now, despite leading the series 3-2, I believe the odds are 50-50. I wish both teams the best. I think we’re in for a thrilling final match.”
For the record, the sixth game between Sabah and Neftchi will take place on May 14. The team that secures four wins will be crowned champion.
Aytaj Sahed
Idman.biz
