By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko clinched a spot in the 2021 EuroLeague playoffs thanks to a 77 – 68 road win over Bayern Munich. With two rounds left in the regular season, Fener improved to 20 – 12 while Bayern, that is still in the Top 8, dropped to 19 – 13.
Nando De Colo led the charge for Fenerbahce with 21 points and six rebounds while Marko Guduric added 18 points. Jan Vesely had 15 points, six rebounds plus five assists while making a key 3-point play for the 58 – 70 with three minutes to play and while Bayern was trying to come back to the game.
“We have a lot of players who played a great game,” Vesely said. “It was a team win, I am happy for that. After the start we had, I didn’t think it would be possible [to make the playoffs] but we turned it around and made the playoffs.” Fener has now won 15 out of the last 17 games since a 37-point loss to Zalgiris Kaunas back in December, to secure its place in the postseason.
Wade Baldwin (20 points, seven rebounds, five assists) dropped six consecutive points to put Bayern at two-possession distance, 68 – 73 with 33 seconds to play. After a turnover by Fener, he had an opportunity to get his team closer but Vesely stopped his layup attempt with the American guard asking for the foul. On the other end, Dyshawn Pierre iced Fener’s win with a pair of free throws.
“It was a big win,” Fenerbahce coach Igor Kokoskov said. “The technical part of the game, I didn’t even check the stats, it is less important. The most important thing is the outcome of the game against a very tough team to play: very physical, athletic, that plays with a lot of confidence.”
The two teams tied at 39 early in the second half and then Fener opened the gap on its lead by playing some excellent defense that forced Bayern to just five points overall in seven minutes of the third period. Igor Kokoskov’s team retained the advantage, pushing back all efforts that its opponents made.
An emotional dedication
After the game, Guduric dedicated the win to his grandmother who passed away recently.