Beşiktaş starts its new life

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Beşiktaş Milangaz will try to cope with the absence of Deron Williams, who spent three months with the Istanbul team. DHA photo

Beşiktaş Milangaz will try to adjust to life without Deron Williams when it takes on Olin Edirne Dec. 3 in the Beko Basketball League.

The Black Eagles enjoyed a storming start to the season, thanks to a superstar they borrowed from the NBA during the lockout. However, Williams returned to the News Jersey Nets after helping the team to six wins in seven league games.

Apart from Williams, Turkish international center Semih Erden will also return to the NBA, where he is contracted to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Coach Ergin Ataman said it will be hard to replace the duo.

“Of course we will miss some strength, we are losing the most important player of our team,” Ataman said during an interview with Eurosport Turkey. “It is not only Deron; we will miss Semih as well. But we are planning to make some additions to regain our squad depth.”

Beşiktaş is one of two teams that have recorded a 6-1 start in seven games, but the league’s perfect starter was Anadolu Efes, who was unbeaten in seven games.

League leader will play at Tofaş Dec. 3 in a bid to show that losing Turkish international forward Ersan İlyasova, who plays for NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, will not cause the team to miss a beat.

Also Dec. 3, Trabzonspor will meet Hacettepe University, Türk Telekom takes on Aliağa Petkim and Pınar Karşıyaka welcomes Mersin BB. Bandırma Kırmızı will host Banvit, its parent club, in an interesting match-up on the same day.

On Dec. 4 title hopefuls Galatasaray Medical Park and Fenerbahçe Ülker will play against Antalya BB and Erdemir respectively.