By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko has listed Dyshawn Pierre as questionable to play in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 12 game against Turkish rival Anadolu Efes, scheduled to be held Thursday at Ulker Sport and Event Hall.
Pierre, 28, recently recovered from a groin injury but a calf injury returned him to the list of unavailable players. He was not cleared to play in two games, Round 8 and 11, and is considered questionable for Round 12. Fener went 1-1 without the Canadian forward.
Danilo Barthel will remain on the injury list. The German big man has been sidelined since the successful arthroscopic knee surgery performed on October 12. He has yet to be cleared to return to game action.
On the opposite end of the Turkish derby, captain Dogus Balbay underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery on Monday. He was sidelined indefinitely. Teammate James Anderson is considered likely to remain out.
Besides the injuries, Sehmus Hazer and Metecan Birsen of Fenerbahce will miss the meeting of the Istanbul powerhouses. Both have instead joined the Turkey national team preparations to start the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. Tolga Gecim, Bugrahan Tuncer, and Erten Gazi of Anadolu Efes have also been transferred from club to national team duties.
On the same day of the EuroLeague all-Turkish clash, Turkey will face Belarus in Minsk beginning the double-legged round-robin schedule of Group B. More players of the country’s giants are expected to become available for the national team ahead of the home game opposite Great Britain following on Sunday.