By Ahmet Kaymaz

 

Okben Ulubay ('97) was born on May 25th in Bakirköy (Istanbul) with his twin brother Oktay, who is also a pretty talented kid that plays SG together with him at Efes U16 team now. Okben visited an Efes camp at 2007 in his hometown Antalya, and then went to Istanbul and Efes for the season 2007-08 reaching the final of the U12 Junior League being a 11 years old kid, but lost that one. One year later the lefthanded SF, who can play all positions from PG to C, won the U12 Junior League being selected MVP. In 2010 was U14 champion being 13 years old and also MVP. In 2011 was U14 champion and MVP and finally in 2011 in the U16 championship he finished third with Efes.
 

As a turk i don't really write more positive aspects, because most of the young turkish talented players do not work hard enough. But here I am trusting his mother Banu Günal, a former basketball player. She will further show Okben and Oktay the right way. Okben loves to decide games. When is close he wants the ball and rules the game in favor to his team, even this summer at the U16 European Championship in some important moments he tried it but did not make it. Next time most likely we will have the chance to see Okben on TV (stream) in February 2012 at the U16 Türk Telekom Cup.

 

Photo: istanbul.edu.tr