By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was not looking good in the third quarter, but Fenerbahce Beko recovered snatching the win, 73-65, over Zenit Saint-Petersburg Thursday.
Jan Vesely ended up with 17 points at the Sibur Arena and Danilo Barthel following his game-time decision posted 15 points behind 7/8 field goals. However, Bobby Dixon sinking a couple of key threes and scoring seven of his 11 points in the final period of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 12 tilt got the job done.
“We played a good game. in the second half we let them come back easy, we didn’t do our things the way we should and we made the game difficult for us, but it was a tough road trip,” said Vesely summing up, “They’re a great team and I’m glad we won. We got the win and we go home tomorrow.”
“Unfortunately, we experienced this also in the last games; we didn’t come out of the locker room at halftime very strong,” added Barthel, “But I’m proud that this time we found a way back to our game and we had the right answer to win the game in the fourth quarter. In the end, I’m just happy I could play and help my team get the win.”
Kevin Pangos poured a team-high 16 points for the losing side orchestrating the comeback from the 40-23 deficit but did not score in the fourth quarter. Will Thomas registered ten points, eight of those in the third quarter, by far the best for the team coached by Xavi Pascual.
“This is one game that I have to say is our worst game this season,” claimed Pascual, “Some players were not mentally ready and like this, it is not easy to play. It was obvious after the first 6-7 minutes, we lost control of the game. We were out of everything and Fener took clear advantage.”
Coming off four straight EuroLeague defeats and a tough domestic loss Tuesday, Igor Kokoskov’s side took full control in the first half earning the 17-point separation. The visitors were held to eight points in the third quarter, but a strong push after the 58-53 lead for Zenit early in the fourth got the Turkish outlet up to 5-7 in Europe’s premier continental competition.
“The way we opened the game was great and the way we closed the game allowing only 12 points in the fourth quarter,” noted the Fener boss, “Still rebounding is an Achilles heel for us; we have to rebound better as a unit. I think we are covering shooters well, but we have to get those 50-50 balls, rebounds, that is something has been definitely hurting us all season long.”
Similar to the two meetings of the 2019-20 season, the away team claimed the “W” once more. Nando De Colo and recently-added Alex Perez were out. After the third win in seven road games so far, Fenerbahce will be in Germany next week to take on ALBA Berlin.
The third home loss dropped Zenit to 6-3. The Russian outlet will host UNICS Kazan Sunday in VTB United League action and will move on to Spain for EuroLeague fixtures versus Valencia Tuesday and Real Madrid Thursday.