A. Efes wins, brings series to 2-1

In the third game of the Türkiye Sigorta Basketball Super League Play-Off Final Series, Fenerbahçe faced A. Efes at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall. The host, Fenerbahçe, started the match with a starting five of Pierre, Wilbekin, Hayes-Davis, Calathes, and Papagiannis. Efes took the court with Larkin, Bryant, Oturu, Rıdvan Öncel, and Willis.

Fenerbahçe started the match with a 7-0 run with points from Wilbekin, Calathes, and Hayes-Davis. While both teams remained ineffective on offense, Efes reduced the gap to 11-10 with points from Ercan Osmani in the paint with 2 minutes remaining. The host finished the first period with a 16-13 lead. Fenerbahçe also started the second quarter with a 4-0 run.

Efes did not allow the gap to widen, finding points through Ercan Osmani and Can Yıldızlı. As both teams came up empty in alternating offensive possessions, the blue-and-whites tied the score at 23-23 with a three-pointer from Beaubois with 5 minutes and 49 seconds left in the period. With free throws from Derek Willis, Efes took the lead for the first time in the match at 25-27. 

Fenerbahçe regained the lead with 2 minutes and 19 seconds left in the first half with a basket in the paint by Sertaç Şanlı (32-30). While the remaining time saw alternating points, Fenerbahçe managed to head into the locker room with a 39-34 lead thanks to points from Calathes and Hayes-Davis.

After the first 3 minutes of the third period, which began with alternating points, Efes tied the game again at 44-44 with a three-pointer from Willis. In a section marked by alternating turnovers, the third period reached the 4-minute and 20-second mark tied at 48-48. As the tempo increased in the remaining time, defensive performances came to the fore. The third period ended in a 56-56 tie with points in the paint from Georgios Papagiannis for Fenerbahçe and Doğuş Özdemiroğlu for the visitors.

The first 2 minutes of the final quarter passed with alternating points from Papagiannis and Bryant, while Fenerbahçe gained a 6-point lead with an effective performance in the paint during this section. The yellow-navies, producing accurate shots from the perimeter with Calathes and Wilbekin, brought the score to 72-65 with 5 minutes and 40 seconds remaining.

Efes did not allow the gap to widen, finding points through Willis and Larkin. In the final part of the game, both teams traded baskets, and Efes tied the score at 80-80 with a basket in the paint by Willis with 24 seconds remaining. With 3.8 seconds left in the match, Fenerbahçe took an 81-80 lead with a point from the free-throw line by Hayes-Davis. Efes, using the final possession, won the match 82-81 with a 2-point basket by Larkin in the final second, bringing the series to 2-1.

In the final period of the match, Bryant and Oturu from Efes were disqualified with 5 fouls.

Derek Willis, who played with 20 points, was the top scorer of the match for Efes, while Larkin contributed 14 points and Ercan Osmani 13 points. For Fenerbahçe, 17 points from Wilbekin and 16 points from Hayes-Davis were not enough.

The 4th game of the final series will be played on Wednesday, June 12, at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall. If Fenerbahçe wins this match, they will be the champions of the 2023-2024 season in the Basketball Super League. If Efes wins, the series will extend to a 5th game.

Referees: Yener Yılmaz, Özlem Yalman, Hüseyin Çelik

Fenerbahçe Beko: Pierre 6, Wilbekin 17, Hayes-Davis 16, Calathes 10, Papagiannis 12, Metecan Birsen, Şehmus Hazer 5, Sertaç Şanlı 9, Melih Mahmutoğlu 2, Tarık Biberovic 4, Ömer Ege Ziyaettin, Emre Ekşioğlu

Head Coach: Sarunas Jasikevicius

A. Efes: Larkin 14, Bryant 9, Oturu 12, Rıdvan Öncel 2, Willis 20, Beaubois 7, Ercan Osmani 13, Salih Altuntaş, Melih Tunca, Doğuş Özdemiroğlu 5, Erkan Yılmaz, Can Yıldızlı

Head Coach: Tomislav Mijatovic

1st Period: 16-13 (In favor of Fenerbahçe)

Half-time: 39-34 (In favor of Fenerbahçe)

3rd Period: 56-56

News Source: İHA