Tamer Oyguç

Tamer Oyguç — Biography

Tamer Ali Oyguç is a former Turkish international basketball player, a 2.10 m centre who stood at the heart of Efes Pilsen's rise in the 1990s. He was remembered as the player who best sealed the paint in Efes's area defence, captained the team that won the club's Korać Cup in 1996, and wore the national shirt 215 times. After his playing career he took a management role at Galatasaray.

He started out in Eczacıbaşı's youth system and played for the club from 1983 to 1989, winning two league titles. His breakthrough came at Efes Pilsen, where he moved in 1989: for nine seasons he was the starting centre, won the Turkish Basketball League five times with the team and lost the 1993 Saporta Cup final to Aris. In the defensive system built by Aydın Örs, the area under the basket was known as the "death zone" and Oyguç was its key player; he was also known for his hook shots. He wore number 13 for every team he played on. After Efes he played for Fenerbahçe in 1998-2000, Beşiktaş in 2000-2001 and Galatasaray in 2001-2002; he did his military service in Ankara with Karagücü and won the second division with them. In all he won seven league titles, five Turkish Cups and two Presidential Cups.

With the national team he won gold at the 1987 Mediterranean Games in Latakia, Syria. After retiring he stayed in the basketball conversation through television commentary and writing.