I am so very proud to announce that last night, 10/21/09, my basketball team, Mersin Buyuksehir Bld. won the President’s Cup for the first time in history beating Fenerbahce 86-74! The President’s Cup is a huge game to start the Turkish Basketball season between the previous season’s 1st and 2nd place teams. Since we made history last year by taking Mersin to the finals for the 1st time, this was also a historic 1st appearance in the President’s Cup.

Upon arrival in Mersin this year, each player was aware of the magnitude of this game. We were swept in the finals last year, and felt as if we had something to prove. Also, Fenerbahce is the proverbial giant in Turkey because of their huge budget, tendency to keep the same core group of players each season and their dominance in the Turkish league year in and year out. We also really wanted to win because we understood that our coach and organization hand picked each of us, including the returning players, as the personnel that would be able to accomplish the huge task of taking down this giant.

Our coach Ceyhun Yildizoglu inspired us with a very short yet powerful pregame message. He pointed out all of the success each one of us has had winning championships and cups, whether in college, on other Turkish teams or in the WNBA. But his point was that Mersin, the city and the club, didn’t have any championships or cups yet…so we needed to win a cup for Mersin. Everyone was immediately moved by his poignant speech, and the energy was perfect for the task that was before us.

The game was played in a way that the city of Mersin could be proud. We were able to demonstrate that we could play with this behemoth. In fact, we dominated the entire game, thanks to the outstanding play the entire team and of a few players especially, Ivory Latta, Erlana Larkins, Saziye Ivegin, and myself. It was an overall team effort though, and our team defense and intensity won the game for us, so I thank all of my teammates for a great start to what looks to be a great season!

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that a couple of Fener’s players just arrived, and they may be better prepared the next time around, so the next win may not come quite as easily. Yet, it still felt good to know that our organization, including the Mayor of Mersin, Macit Ozcan, was smiling on our efforts and our ability to make history on this day.

Here’s a link to the game stats.

More photos (click for larger view):