One of the BIBL′s best players - Ivan Lilov joins Olin Edirne from Turkey

One of the EUROHOLD Balkan League′s top players from last season - Ivan Lilov, who wore the jersey of BC Rilski Sportist is moving to Turkey for the next season. His agent Lubomira Genova informed us that he signed the contract with the seventh placed team in Turkey from last season immediately after he came back from Bormio, where he played with the Bulgarian NT.
 
Last season Olin Edirne finished seventh in the regular season, and lost 3-2 in the first round of the playoffs against Banvit, but thanks to the good ranking they will play in Group F of the EuroChallenge, along with Belgium′s vice champion - Aalst and the winner from the qualification between Triumph Lyubertsi and Krasnye Krilya.
 
"We worked really hard after the end of the season so we could get here. Ivan made a tremendous season in the NBL and in the EUROHOLD Balkan League and absolutely deservedly he will play in one of Europe′s top leagues - the Turkish. We were in talks with CEZ Nymburk, Mons, Galil Gilboa, Knet Rioja Calvijo, Radnicki Kragujevac and Hapoel Holon, where everybody knows that Pini Gershon is the GM. Immediately after he took over the position he called me and said "I want Ivan!", but I believ that he will respect Ivan′′s decision. Everybody knows what it is to play in a championship like the Turkish."
 
"Ivan is a great player and person, a big talent and a big warrior. This is just the beginning of his big future on the European scene" his agent Lubomira Genova said.
 
Here is what Lilov himself said just minutes after signing his new deal: "I′m really excited and happy, that my international career will begin in Turkey in a team such as Olin Edirne. That′s a big step ahead for me, and I realize that at the same time it′s a big responsibility. I′m ready to give all I can for the team, and I′m sure that the team will help me grow and develop as a player. I can′t wait to play for Olin and show what I′m capable of."
 
"We were talking with various teams from different countries, but after they sent the contract during the weekend I knew that this was it. I knew that there was interest from some Bulgarian teams, but I didn′t get any official offers"
 
"I want to thank to the great fans from Samokov, which supported me all year long  and to all of my teammates and the coaching staff in Rilski Sportist.
 
"Now when I know where I′m going to play, I want to concentrate on the preparation for EuroBasket 2011. I feel calm and confident now and I′m ready to give 100% for the Bulgarian national team. I want also to thank to my agent Lubomira Genova, as she worked really hard in the past months in order for this transfer to happen" Lilov added.
 
Last season Ivan Lilov played with Rilski Sportist, as in the EUROHOLD Balkan League he averaged 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 12 games. In total 54 games with Rilski Sportist in all competitions, he averaged 19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
 
Lilov also won the silver medal in the 2011 EUROHOLD Balkan League Final Four. He has a gold medal from the competition as well, as he was part of Rilski Sportist′s 2009 BIBL championship team.