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In the summer of 2020, after six seasons at the Žalgiris club in Kaunas, Edgar Ulanov packed his bags and went to Turkey to taste his first legionnaire bread in a race, but the season at Fenerbahce in Istanbul did not pass him, and a year later the basketball player returned to his hometown.
According to official protocol, the 29-year-old, 198 cm tall left-handed basketball player is among seven newcomers who have joined the Lithuanian champions this season, but E. Ulanov himself does not feel that way.
“I’m a newcomer, maybe that’s the best way to name it.” 15 minutes smiled, said E.Ulanov. – It’s fun to do sports again at the “Žalgiris” stadium, how much time is spent here, I feel at home. Nothing has changed too much. The companions were well received, as always. There is no need for additional processes, some kind of integration into the team or the team culture. I know everything perfectly. I read like a new player, although I don’t feel new. “
Although the Lithuanian had signed a two-year contract with the Istanbul Club, at the end of the first season he realized that the entire contract period at the Fenerbahche Club would not be completed.
E.Ulanovas played in the Euroleague tournament in 28 games, in which he accumulated 4.5 points, recovered 1.6 balls and made 1.4 assists in just over 19 minutes.
In the Turkish championship, due to the legionnaire limit, the forward watched more frequently from the reserve bench, ran down the court in just nine games and missed all the playoffs.
This was the moment when E. Ulanov finally realized that the stage in Fenerbahche was coming to an end.
“It is quite clear that he left Fenerbach, it was only done after the season. The thoughts were all kinds of things during the season. It is a game, it is not a game. Questions arise in my head about what will happen next season. I began to wonder what role awaited me. The thoughts were all kinds of things during the season. It is a game, it is not a game. Questions arise in my head about what will happen next season. I began to wonder what role awaited me. After consulting with the club’s coaches and leaders, it became clear that the role could remain similar, so the most logical decision was to leave, the basketball player who returned to Žalgiris taught. – The race is not endless, I still want to enjoy basketball, so I made the decision to go. Negotiations and some of those talks with the club began during the playoffs in Turkey. We find out the details and all the legal issues. He knew he would not play in the Turkish playoffs. We contacted the club and began to negotiate a divorce that ended after the season. I don’t look back, I think everything is fine. “
Photo from Getty Images / Euroleague.net/Edgar Ulanov and Markas Guduričius
E. Ulanov, who became a free agent for 15 minutes, also attracted the attention of the Lokomotiv and Monaco Krasnodar teams, but ultimately decided to return to where he had spent the best years of his career: Žalgiris.
“The decision to return to Kaunas was easy, there were not many doubts,” said E. Ulanov. – Other offers did not beat “Žalgiris”. It is a TOP5 organization in Europe. This moment is always important. If someone had offered a contract from those other TOP5 organizations, maybe there would be more doubts. When Žalgiris offered to come back, I was very happy. I’m glad Paul wanted to see me on the team and I will be able to play for such a great organization. The Chamber and the Euroleague are key aspects of my self-determination. “
The basketball player did not fit into Igor Kokoshov’s schemes in Istanbul, but he does not regret the decision to leave a year ago. E.Ulanov comments on the off-site experience with only the best of words.
“Despite basketball, which did not satisfy me because the season was bad, all the other things in Istanbul were great,” said E. Ulanov. – The living conditions, the appointments I discovered in Istanbul, the new experience and the organization were fantastic. I am very happy to have been part of Fenerbahche and to meet new people. My relationship with the players and the coaching staff continued to be excellent. Whoever asks me, I tell everyone that I enjoyed living in Turkey. Anyone who has been to a club of this level and played with such talented players will say that it is a good experience that has given them a lot. I look forward to using this experience in the future. “
At the end of the season, the basketball player was impressed by the club’s trauma, which is why he also missed the Olympic qualifying tournament in Kaunas. According to E. Ulanov himself, he is currently playing sports 100%, but the real picture will be seen after the first match.
“I haven’t missed a single workout yet. So far everything is going well, but we will continue to monitor the situation. I hope there are no problems during the season. They asked me about the surgery, but that’s the last option. So far, there are other methods. There is no need to do anything at the moment, I am training with full force with the team, I am waiting for the game and we will see what happens then, ”said E. Ulanov.
And what are other methods to treat this type of trauma, E.Ulanov asked for 15 minutes.
“It just came to our knowledge then. You have to be treated with medication, and if they don’t help, surgery is necessary,” explained the Žalgiris player.
Photo by Rokas Lukoševičius / 15min / Edgar Ulanov
According to basketball philosophy, Žalgiris’ helmsman Martin Schiller is very close to I. Kokoshov, who coached E. Ulanov in Istanbul. Positive work environment, attack-oriented basketball, with little twist in the game, which is Kaunas’s main horse.
Is there not a concern that it will not be possible to participate in a Kaunas team different from the one played by E. Ulanov in the past?
“I don’t see any problem. The most important thing for me is to enjoy basketball. If he can do that, the style of play will not be a problem. The coach knows that I am a player with different plans than the third numbers of the team last year. Last year, there was no one who could have focused. I think it will be this year, – said the player ready for the seventh season in “Žalgiris”. – The general picture of the team consists of twelve players, so it will be necessary to adapt The most important thing is that I can enjoy basketball, so it doesn’t matter if we play fast or slow. And the teammates know me where I can be useful and how exploited. Martin knows that too. Now we try to use my strengths during the game. training, as well as all the other players. I don’t think there is any problem. “
Last season in Istanbul we got to see a photo when E. Ulanov, who was not in the schemes of I. Kokoshov, flashed a long shot in the initial phase of the attack, but it does not promise such flashes of surprise in Kaunas.
“Maybe I jumped out of desperation when you know the ball won’t get to you later,” said E. Ulanov with a smile. – I don’t think any “Žalgiris” player will attack the basket from afar in the fifth second of the attack. Unless Milas or Janis were free. These are some of our voiced snipers. But I’ve never been the one who opens the ball and throws a triple to the basket in the fifth second of attack. I think I’ll be a player like I used to be at Žalgiris, unless at least something changes. “
The system will not change after seeing the teammates gathered in the Žalgiris gymnasium, said E. Ulanovas.
“I think last year’s system will remain similar. We newcomers will make some adjustments. We are players of a different caliber than last season, it will be a bit of a correction, but the style will remain similar,” said the 29-year-old basketball player.
On the potential of the team Ulia He was reluctant to speak, highlighting the club’s latest purchase.
“It is gratifying that Emmanuel Mudiay has joined the team. The latest and most interesting player. I don’t know him yet, but we look forward to his workouts. The team itself looks great, communicates and listens to advice. They want to join the team as soon as possible. There are no problems off the field and there is still very little practice for me to appreciate anything. We are waiting for the match, “said E. Ulanov.
The objective of “Žalgiris” remains the same: achieve the Euroleague playoffs?
“The management did not present the objectives, but in my opinion, the objective remains the same,” said E. Ulanov. – It would be fun for each team to get into the playoffs and translate a new sheet there. The quarterfinals would be an amazing result for our team. I hope that we are all healthy and fight for a place among the eight ”.
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