Ulkerspor's Ibrahim Kutluay has delivered some telling blows for the club on its way to the Turkish basketball finals but now a hand injury has knocked him out of the championship.

The 1.98m sharpshooting guard, who is the captain of Turkey's national team, broke a finger in the last game of the semi-finals against Besiktas and has had his left hand put in plaster for three weeks.

He is still hopeful that Ulker can conquer Efes Pilsen in the best-of-seven game series.

"It will be the struggle of two very strong teams," he said.

"My team-mates will not let you notice that our captain, Haluk Yildirim, and I are missing.I believe in that with all my heart. The basketball fans will not be sorry, if they want to watch a wonderful set of games."