Βy Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Markus Howard and Pierria Henry led the charge as Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, just two days after beating Anadolu Efes.
Baskonia prevailed 76-70 over Fenerbahce with Howard scoring 15 points and Henry adding 13 against his former team.
“For me, it was just kind of calling with the game was going towards, and the trend was us continuing to move the ball and find the best shot,” mentioned Howard, “There were so many guys that stepped up and had big-time games. There are so many I can name, but I think it was a total team effort. Each and every person that was on the floor tonight, and that wasn’t on the floor tonight, contributed to the win. And that’s a team win that you want, especially on the road against a great team.”
Maik Kotsar and Matt Costello added 10 points each, while Steve Enoch in his fourth game after his return to action scored nine. “We were lucky to finish the game well and are coming back to Vitoria with a victory,” said Tadas Sedekerskis after chipping in eight points, seven rebounds, and three assists, “That’s the best thing.”
The guests started the game with a 21-13 first quarter, led by 19 at halftime (52-33), and while Fenerbahce twice made it a four-point game (60-56, 74-70) couldn’t complete a comeback.
“I know that Fenerbahce has the best defense in the EuroLeague, and in the second half, we had problems. We didn’t play well, we had many turnovers, but the team kept going on defense with a good, good spirit,” summed up head coach Joan Penarroya.
Once more the hosts didn’t have Scottie Wilbekin and Jonathan Motley available. Marko Guduric with 14 points was the top scorer of the losing side, while Nick Calathes had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
“They came to Turkey and grabbed two deserved wins. They deserve congratulations,” confessed Dimitris Itoudis after the loss, “Obviously, the 50 points that we gave up in the first half cost us a lot, especially the 21 points they scored in transition and 9 in hustle and second-chance points. If we see the second half and the mindset we had, and the tone we set, with only 24 points allowed and 37 scored, it is pretty much the game we had to play from the beginning of the game.”
Baskonia is now tied in the second place of the standings with a 9-5 record with Real Marid and Olympiacos, just one win away from Fenerbahce (10-4).