By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes secured a comfortable prep game win, 97-67, against Lokomotiv Kuban on Friday.
Filip Petrusev, a newcomer for the defending champions of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, recorded a team-high 23 points, grabbed six rebounds, and earned a game-high six fouls. After being picked up by the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2021 NBA draft and playing in the NBA Summer League, he signed with the Turkish powerhouse and is looking good in the preseason heading to the quickly approaching official games of the 2021-22 season.
Experienced French forward, Adrien Moerman added 11 points on the third day of the Gloria Cup in Turkey. Rodrigue Beaubois sank a couple of threes for ten points and Bryant Dunston also scored ten points. On the losing end, Johnathan Motley logged a game-high 24 points as the Russian team coached by Evgeny Pashutin was forced early into a double-digit hole. From there, it stayed a one-sided affair.
The team coached by Ergin Ataman, up 2-0 in the Gloria Cup, moves to Sunday’s fixture opposite Zalgiris, down 0-2 after losing earlier to Tofas. The two teams sitting at 1-1 will also face each other in a couple of days at Belek, Antalya, Turkey.
A few weeks away from the start of the EuroLeague season, Efes is planned to visit Real Madrid on September 30. The home opener follows in Regular Season Round 2 with CSKA Moscow in Istanbul.
Loko will be competing in the 7DAYS EuroCup hoping for an improved run after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2020-21 edition. The 2021-22 opener is at home versus MoraBanc Andorra on October 20.