By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The team that leads the standings almost fell victim to a grand surprise, since it got close to being defeated by…. the last in the tail of the Turkish Basketball Super League. Meanwhile, the reigning champion showed great resilience to beat a far more qualitative opponent.
Anadolu Efes (18-4) got stressed against Turk Telekom (5-17) and the monster game of Manny Harris (33 p. 8 r.) but managed to win the match in overtime, thanks to the “Deus ex Machina” called Dario Saric. Apart from making an impressive double-double, the Croatian hyper-prospect scored a crucial three-pointer with 18 seconds to go, to force the overtime. In the extra five minutes, Efes was adequate enough and made the necessary free throws in order to beat its opponents and increase the difference from second Fenerbahce in the standings.
In Izmir, Pinar Karsiyaka (13-9) made a comeback worthy of their status as champions, erasing a 10 point deficit and outplaying Fenerbahce (16-6) in the final quarter. Yet this result was not the most serious blow that struck coach Obradovic‘s team, since Jan Vesely’s injury in the beginning of the second half will cause the Czech center to stay sidelined during the Euroleague playoffs.
The winning streak of Banvit (14-8) was expanded after an stunning performance against Ted Ankara (8-14). The team from Bandirma grabbed 20 more rebounds than its opponents, with Gasper Vidmar and Adrien Moerman making a quite formidable frontline duo.
Gaziantep (12-10) is also on a roll, delivering another offensive show, with which they overpowered Besiktas (10-12) on the road. Five players of the winners scored in double digit numbers, while the team finished the game with 61% in its two-point shot attempts.
Basketball Super League 2015/2016 – Day 22:
Besiktas – Gaziantep (Earl Calloway 23 p. 6 a. 4 r.) : 84 – 95
Istanbul B.S.B. (Jaka Klobucar 17 p. 5 a.) – Trabzonspor: 89 – 74
Buyukcekmcece – Usak Sportif (Can Korkaz 22 p.) : 80 – 83
Yesilgiresun (Deyan Ivanov 20 p. 10 r.) – Konyaspor: 88 – 68
Pinar Karsiyaka (Bracey Wright 31 p.) – Fenerbahce: 86 – 81
Banvit (Adrien Moerman 27 p. 7 r.) – Ted Ankara :92 – 70
Turk Telekom – Anadolu Efes (Dario Saric 26 p. 10 r.): 87 – 89 (O.T.)
#BSL How Dario Saric forced the overtime, "saving" @AnadoluEfesSK vs @TT_Basketbol pic.twitter.com/Nqj1wm1dbB
— Eurohoops.net (@Eurohoopsnet) March 21, 2016
The game between Galatasaray and Darussafaka Dogus was postponed after the terrorist attack in Istanbul.