By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce is aiming for the first place and a home win against Virtus Segafredo Bologna was a must.
And that’s exactly how the game played out with the hosts getting the 95-81 win and keeping the Italian constantly at a distance.
Marko Guduric with 17 points, Errick McCollum with 15, Bonzie Colson with 12, and Sertak Sanli with 11 led the charge for the home team which had a 16-7 record and the second spot in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
“It’s a blessing, I am just happy that we can play this time of basketball”, said Guduric after the final buzzer, “we are all adjusting to the system and now you see the results, but there are always things that we can do better”.
Fenerbahce finished the night with 17/29 threes, an admirable 58,6% efficiency from beyond the arc and 20 assists.
“Everything looks much better when you make the three-points shots”, added coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Virtus captain Toko Shengelia had a big night and a new career high with 35 points but was all alone, as his team dropped to 7-17.
Fenerbahce in control
Fenerbahce opened the game leading 22-13 after the first quarter and despite Virtus trimming the lead to three (36-33), the hosts again had an 8-point cushion at halftime (46-37).
Things would have been much worse for Virtus if Shengelia had not scored 17 points in 14 minutes.
Fenerbahce pushed the lead to 14 (58-44) after three three-pointers by Arturs Zagars, Guduric, and Nigel Hayes-Davis who also added a free throw after the first five minutes of the second half.
Shengelia made it again a nine-point game (60-51), only for Sanli to answer with two threes and Biberovic with a goal foul making it an 18-point game (69-51).
Shengalia closed the period with a three (69-54) for 27 personal points, still, Fenerbahce was in control, led by 19 (89-70,) and cruised until the end.
Photo credit: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague