3-Cushion
SCHILTIGHEIM – The Agipi fortress, Europe’s and the world’s strongest three cushion team for eight undefeated years, has been conquered. The winning streak in the Europe Cup was ended by the Turks of Bahcelievler Belediye Spor Kulubu, who beat the favorites in their own home.
For the first time in all those years, Agipi looked vulnerable on all positions. Even Marco Zanetti, who has a phenomenal season and Frédéric Caudron, not in his best form this tournament, were not able to turn things around for their team and hold off the Turks.
The homogeneity and strength of the Turks was exceptional: all four of them do not belong to the top ten in the world, they are all top 16 players: Coklu 11, Cenet 13, Tasdemir 14, Yüksel 16. And it is never shown before, that the numbers three and four, Murat Naci Coklu and Adnan Yüksel, recorded a better general average than the numbers one and two.
Tayfun Tasdemir, Lütfi Cenet, Murat Naci Coklu and Adnan Yüksel lifted the trophy that had been in French hands since 2005. It was the first Turkish victory in the history of this European Cup.
Agipi is record holder with eight consecutive victories. Two countries have won more titles, with different teams: Dutch and Belgian teams won the Cup on twelve occasions.
Frédéric Caudron, Marco Zanetti, Jérémy Bury and Jean Christoph Roux wrote a golden chapter in the Cup’s history book. It was inevitable, the supremacy had to end some day.
Turkish Bahcelievler, with Istanbul as their home town, first took part last year, but suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of BC Deurne from Belgium. They came back with a vengeance, superior in the qualifications and not to be denied in the final.
In the group stages, the Turks already out-averaged Agipi with 1.760, Lütfi Cenet being the only player to lose a match (against Belgian champion Roland Forthomme). In the semifinal Coral Colón was their victim, and in the final even Agipi could not stop Bahcelievler.
In those two deciding matches, a lot of the credit went to Murat Naci Coklu and Adnan Yüksel, the third and fourth position players. They managed to gain a 4-0 advantage at half-time against both teams.
The margin was such, that Tayfun Tasdemir and Lütfi Cenet did not even have to play their matches to a finish, and consolidating the advantage sufficed.
Diminutive Coklu ran a 13 in his fifteenth inning and scores of 12-10, 20-11, 26-17 and 39-18, left the disappointing Bury without a chance (40-29 in 17/16, average 2.353). The French player had his best moment at the end with a run of ten. Adnan Yüksel finished even quicker against Jean Christoph Roux, with 14 points in his last 4 innings (40-24 in 18 (average 2.222).
In the two remaining matches, the Turks needed to score 54 points to win the Cup. When the matches had progressed to 30-23 to Tasdemir against Caudron and 23-22 to Cenet against Zanetti, all that was needed was one winning point.
The match ball was missed seven times, but there was no more tension in the arena. Tasdemir finally made the deciding point and gave Bahclelievler a well deserved victory.
The Turkish team is the new record holder general average: Agipi recorded 1.697 in 2012, Bahcelievler finished at 1.752 in 2013 edition.
The victory of Bahcelievler means that the European Cup tournament is not played in the Agipi arena next year. The nex location is in Turkey, where the winner of this year will host five other teams. Agipi has to play qualifiactions for the first time in seven years. Bahcelievler is automatically seeded.
In the individual table, Torbjörn Blomdahl with only two matches to his credit reamined the best player with an average of 2.484.
The final score with averages:
1 Bahcelievler Belediyue Spor Kulubu, 1.758
2 Agipi, 1.513
3 Coral Colón, 1.358
3 Andernos, 1.353
5 Laxou, 1.315
6 De Ploeg, 1.176.
The top 10 in averages (matches played):
1 Torbjörn Blomdahl (2 matches) 2.484
2 Roland Forthomme (3) 1.893
3 Murat Naci Coklu (4) 1.860
4 Adnan Yüksel (4) 1.818)
5 Frédéric Caudron (4) 1.754
6 Marco Zanetti (4) 1.733
7 Jean van Erp (2) 1.702
8 Tayfun Tasdemir (4) 1.699
9 Nikos Polychronopoulos (3) 1.692
10 Lütfi Cenet (4) 1.627.