By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko labeled Johnathan Motley as a game-time decision for Game 1 of the best-of-five series opposite AS Monaco.
Motley, 28, will travel with the team but his playing status will be decided before tipoff on Wednesday. Dealing with a left calf injury, he has been ruled out of four straight contests between the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi.
Yigit Hamza Mestoglu (right knee surgery) and Raul Neto (right knee surgery) remain sidelined. However, all remaining players of the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius are healthy.
“It is very clear that we are facing one of the best teams in Europe,” noted the 48-year-old Lithuanian play-caller, “We need to be ready to play our best version. We need to play very physical games. Like always in the big games, the details will be the most important and to deal with the easy points, fast break, and everything and then deal with the unbelievable talent of their guards.”
“It’s going to be a tough game. Tough series,” added Scottie Wilbekin, “Focus on the first game for us though. We just gotta do a good job of following our game plan and try to come out as best as we can.”
Following Game 1 in Salle Gaston Medecin, Game 2 will be played in the same venue on Friday. Moving the series to Istanbul’s Ulker Sports Arena, Game 3 is scheduled for next Wednesday, and Game 4, if necessary, will be played next Friday.