Kyle Allman: I just want to get to the championship

Buzzer-beater and a wild night

After sending Turk Telekom into the EuroCup semifinals, Kyle Allman spoke about the chaos of that closing sequence and how it felt to hit the winner. The play wasn’t even designed for him — he was simply trying to inbound the ball safely when it came back around and he buried the shot. He called the whole game one of the most intense he’s been part of, even beyond the final bucket.

The contest had plenty of high points before the buzzer, including a deep three that temporarily shifted momentum. Allman also pointed to Jaleen Smith’s stretch of play late in the game as a turning point: his energy and confident scoring gave the whole team a lift and helped spark the comeback.

Changing the storyline and embracing identity

Looking ahead to the semis, Allman admitted Turk Telekom will have to rewrite the script after losing to Bourg twice earlier in the season. He was careful to say it isn’t personal or about revenge, but they want to avoid being beaten the same way again and are focused on fixing mistakes from those games.

Home-court matters, he noted, and stealing a game on the road would be huge. But the bigger message was simple: the team’s goal is to keep winning and reach the final. That’s Allman’s motivation — nothing fancy, just getting to the championship.

Reflecting on the season overall, he said the group took time to gel but has grown into a unit that trusts one another. Coach Erdem Can’s steadiness through a rough patch earned credit, and the squad’s defensive effort has become a foundation for their play. Allman highlighted a few teammates for their defensive spark and physicality, and praised the way the team feeds off those moments.

Offensively, pushing the pace has helped everyone feel involved. More possessions mean more chances to create, and that led to a more unselfish brand of basketball — players trusting they’ll get the ball back and willing to make the extra play. Allman likes that the team can attack the paint and finish through athletic teammates who convert opportunities into momentum.

At the end of the day, his focus is straightforward: win the next game and keep moving forward. The semifinals are next, and Turk Telekom will aim to change the storyline and keep their championship hopes alive.