MANISA (Türkiye) - Season 3 of the Youth Basketball Champions League is ready to roll again on April 22. When we tip-off this time around, we will have five new teams and two new countries represented.
The growth of this event has been dramatic and these new teams are not just here to make up the numbers. Let's get to know our hosts, Manisa BBSK.
THE PAST
Manisa BBSK are not only new to the YBCL, they are one of the new kids on the block in Türkiye and also on the continent.
The senior team has only been playing top-flight basketball domestically since 2022 and made their continental debut in the FIBA Europe Cup last season.
This year they continued their meteoric rise by stepping up into the Basketball Champions League.
In fact, the growth in the performance of the basketball team becomes even more impressive when you consider this is a club that was conceived as a multi-sport, community-driven organization, primarily focused on increasing participation.
In the club's own words:
The fundamental vision of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club is to promote sports participation among all age groups, from 7 to 77, to revitalize and support all branches equally, to build sports facilities that keep the public’s interest in sports alive, and to open sports schools that embrace all segments of society.
THE PRESENT
The team that plays in the YBCL this year will predominantly be made of players from the roster that competes in the Turkish U19 League.
There is no question that it has been a tough season for Manisa in the U19 league. From 10 games played, they have won 4 and lost 6.
The green shot of encouragement in that stat is that all of the games they have lost came on their travels. Manisa are unbeaten at home this season at U19 level.
Their most recent game against last year's silver-medallists Galatasaray also shows some promising signs, where they put up a hard fight, only losing 67-61 on December 29.
The team will be led by a strong group of 2007-born players. Deniz Altundas averaged 7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season and had a huge game with 23 points and 3 assists on 57 percent shooting from downtown against MST on November 11.
Tolga Sen will undoubtedly be one of the leaders for this team after averaging 9.0 points and 6.3 rebounds in the U19 league.
Arin Aktas, who picked up 2.3 points in the U19 league, started playing in Manisa at age 9. He recently returned to play in Manisa after stints at Pinar Karsiyaka and Izmir Bahçehir Club.
The rest of the 2007-born generation includes Ardic Bakkal, Eralp Odabasi, Kamil Balkanli, and Mustafa Aydogan.
The younger generations in this Manisa squad are well stocked with talent as well. Mehmet Delibas is a 2008-born who looks well set to make a big impact this week.
He put 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds at the U19 level whilst playing two years young and recorded two double-doubles, the first was 12 points and 15 rebounds vs. Buyukcekmece on November 23, and the second was a huge 19-point and 11-rebound effort vs. Gaziantep on December 1.
Efe Tercan is another 2008-born who recently played with Darussafaka and Turk Telekom before coming to Manisa.
Also, keep an eye out for 2009-born guard, Demir Kaan Koseli who joined the club this off-season, and 2009-born wing Ege Leylek.
THE FUTURE
Manisa get their YBCL campaign started in Group C at 19:00 on April 22, against fellow debutants, Pallacanestro Reggiana.
The Italians present a strong challenge and arrive in Türkiye stacked with talent. You can read all about them here.
Manisa's follow-up game to Reggiana is as tough as they come in the YBCL: a date with the reigning champs Rytas Vilnius on April 24 at 20:00.
The way this competition works is that comfort is a luxury no team is afforded. You need to be at your best from the opening tip if you want to stand a chance of making it to the podium.
Whilst Manisa could potentially make it to the Semi-Finals with one win, the harsh reality of the YBCL is that they really need to win both games in their group to be sure of challenging for a medal.