Fenerbahçe emerges victorious in the first game of the final series

In the first game of the Türkiye Sigorta Basketball Super League Play-Off Final Series, A. Efes faced Fenerbahçe Beko at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall.

The host team, Efes, started the match with a lineup of Larkin, Doğuş Özdemioğlu, Clyburn, Ercan Osmani, and Oturu. Fenerbahçe Beko took the court with Calathes, Wilbekin, Pierre, Hayes-Davis, and Papagiannis.

The first 5 minutes of the match, which began with traded baskets, were tied at 12-12, before Fenerbahçe extended the lead to 6 points with baskets from beyond the three-point line by Hayes-Davis (14-20). As both teams struggled offensively in the final minutes of the first period, the quarter ended with the yellow-navy team leading 22-16.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Efes managed to take the lead with points from Larkin, Clyburn, and Ercan Osmani (25-24). Displaying an effective defensive performance, Fenerbahçe extended the lead back to 6 points with baskets from Calathes and Pierre with 5 minutes and 53 seconds remaining in the period (25-31). Continuing their superior play on both defense and offense in the remaining minutes, the yellow-navy team entered the halftime break with a 15-point lead at 51-36.

In the first minutes of the third period, Fenerbahçe increased the lead to 20 points with points from Hayes-Davis, while Efes responded with baskets from Oturu in the paint and Ercan Osmani from the perimeter (45-61). With 2 minutes and 8 seconds left in the period, Fenerbahçe brought the score to 71-48 with points from Pierre, Papagiannis, and Tarık Biberoviç, and closed the period leading 71-51.

The yellow-navy team started the final quarter with points scored by Tarık Biberoviç and Pierre. Capitalizing on their offensive opportunities, Efes reduced the deficit to 18 points with 7 minutes remaining (58-75). While the final minutes of the quarter saw traded baskets, Fenerbahçe maintained their dominance and won the match with a score of 85-74. With this result, the yellow-navy team took a 1-0 lead in the Basketball Super League Play-Off Final Series.

Nigel Hayes-Davis, who played with 28 points for Fenerbahçe, was the architect of the victory, while Pierre contributed 16 points and Tarık Biberoviç added 10 points. For A. Efes, Ercan Osmani's 18 points and 16 points each from Larkin and Oturu could not prevent the defeat.

The second game of the final series will be played on Saturday, June 8, again at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall. The team that reaches 3 wins in the series will be the champion of the 2023-2024 season in the Basketball Super League.

Referees: Kerem Baki, Mehmet Şahin, Ziya Özorhon

A. Efes: Larkin 16, Beaubois 6, Salih Altuntaş, Melih Tunca, Rıdvan Öncel, Clyburn 4, Doğuş Özdemiroğlu 3, Can Yıldızlı, Ercan Osmani 18, Oturu 16, Erkan Yılmaz 4, Willis 7

Head Coach: Tomislav Mijatovac

Fenerbahçe Beko: Metecan Birsen, Şehmus Hazer 4, Wilbekin 6, Sertaç Şanlı 7, Ömer Ege Ziyaettin, Papagiannis 4, Melih Mahmutoğlu 2, Hayes-Davis 28, Tarık Biberoviç 10, Emre Ekşioğlu, Pierre 16, Calathes 8

Head Coach: Sarunas Jasikevicius

1st Period: 22-16 (In favor of Fenerbahçe)

Halftime: 51-36 (In favor of Fenerbahçe)

3rd Period: 71-51 (In favor of Fenerbahçe)

News Source: İHA