By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Breaking a stalemate is the objective of Game 5 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs. Such a challenge emerges for Fenerbahce Beko in Salle Gaston Medecin on Wednesday.
Heading to the deciding contest of a best-of-five series opposite AS Monaco, Johnathan Motley resumed team practices. Dealing with a left calf injury, the 29-year-old forward/center sat out the finale of the Regular Season and the first four games of the ongoing series, besides three team outings in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi over the last four weeks. Progress announced by Fener may resurface him into the lineup for Game 5.
Yigit Hamza Mestoglu (right knee surgery) and Raul Neto (right knee surgery) remained on the injury list. The remaining players are available for the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius.
“We must retain the same passion in the fifth game of the series,” mentioned the Lithuanian play-caller, “We should attempt to make things as difficult as possible for them. We need to find better options in offense, make a good team effort, and leave it all on the court.”
The winner of Game 5 will clinch a berth in the Final Four. The season-ending tournament will be played in Berlin’s Uber Arena from May 24 to 26.
“Every little detail matters. Every point matters. Every rebound matters. Every possession matters. Every play matters. Every box out matters. Every turnover matters,” Nigel Hayes-Davis talked about the situation surrounding Game 5, “There is no coming back from this game.”