From Rhodes to Patras. Elias Papatheodorou is set to succeed Yannis Christopoulos as technical director of Prometheus.

The veteran technician, who guided Kolossos to this year’s Basket League play-offs, is close to agreeing a cooperation deal with the Achaean club. In fact, the talks between the two sides are so advanced that only a major emergency can “annul” the “marriage.”

Therefore, in the coming days, the announcement of Prometheus Patras is expected, which will formalize the start of cooperation with Ilias Papatheodorou.

The focus is on the accident of the coach, Erdem Can, apparently caused intentionally by the driver of the bus that took the Turk Telecom team to the Gran Canaria stadium for training on the day of the EuroCup final, which is news and has provoked violent reactions. In this regard, the Turkish Basketball Federation issued a sharp statement, stressing that it would review its ties with the organizing authority.

“While participating in the EuroCup final, our representative Turk Telekom was defeated by Gran Canaria and took second place. The Turkish Basketball Federation is deeply saddened by the infamous accident that resulted in the coach’s injury Erdem Can when Turk Telecom went to pre-game practice.

Despite the shocking and unprecedented events, and despite the awards made in the game, our team, Turk Telecom, has made all of Turkey proud, regardless of the outcome. The horrific incidents experienced by the team before, during and after the crucial game that would decide the champion prompt the Turkish Basketball Federation to review its relationship with the EuroCup governing body.

Once again we send our best wishes to Turk Telecom for what happened off the field, which is far from sporting ideals. At the same time, we are announcing to the public that we will be monitoring the incident.” details the relevant announcement.

Gran Canaria were crowned EuroCup champions, beating Turk Telecom 71-67 in the final of the competition, thus securing their presence in the EuroLeague for the 2023/24 season.

John Surna was the best scorer for Jaka Lakovic’s team with 18 points. Former Panathinaikos player AJ Slaughter followed with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

The teams that will compete in the EuroLeague in the 2023-24 season

Following Gran Canaria’s ‘promotion’, it has cleared the way for 15 of the 18 sides set to take part in next season’s top European club competition. The other three spots will be occupied by the team that will conquer the ABA League and two other teams to whom the EuroLeague Wild Cards will be distributed.

• Anatolou Efes
• Monaco
• basconia
• Barcelona
• real Madrid
• Armani Milan
• Fenerbahçe
• Olympic
• Panathinaikos
• Maccabi Tel Aviv
• Zalgiris Kaunas
• Grand Canary
• Villerban
• Alba Berlin
• Bayern Munich

THE REFEREES: Pukl, Perandy, Pir

THE DECADES: 29-23, 50-33, 61-55, 71-67

Gran Canary (Lakovic): Inglis 5 (1), Balcerovski 5 (5 rebounds), Slaughter 16 (4/5 2-pointers, 2/8 3-pointers, 2/2 shots, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Bassas, Albicci 13 (3/3 2-pointers, 2/7 3-pointers, 1/5 shots, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals), Benite 2, Brussino 11 (3/7 3-pointers, 3 rebounds), volley, surna 18 (4/6 2-pointers, 3/5 3-pointers, 1/2 shots, 3 rebounds), Diop (2 rebounds), Stevic (2 rebounds)

TURK TELECOM (January): Youngmoore 3 (1/1 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers), Erden 3, Taylor 4 (1/4 3-pointers, 4 assists), Grant 16 (7/12 2-pointers, 0/ 1 3-pointers, 2/3 shots, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 7 turnovers), Yilmaz (3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers), Eric, Sestina 7 (2/5 3-pointers, 4 rebounds), Bouteil 17 (1/4 2-pointers, 5/12 3-pointers, 3 rebounds), Jones 17 (4/9 2-pointers, 0/1 3-pointers, 9/14 shooting, 11 rebounds, 3 steals)

Gran Canaria team statistics: 13/25 2-pointers, 11/32 3-pointers, 12/19 shots, 31 rebounds (24 defensive – 7 offensive), 13 assists, 10 steals, 14 fouls, 2 blocks

Turk Telecom team stats: 13/29 2-pointers, 9/26 3-pointers, 14/23 shots, 41 rebounds (29 defensive – 12 offensive), 13 assists, 5 steals, 19 turnovers, 2 blocks