By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A gripping match, particularly near the end, was in store for us in the first Final of Turkish Basketball Super League. One in which Fenerbahce ultimately downed Anadolu Efes 87 – 85 in “Abdi Ipekci”, making the 1-0 and bringing the home-court advantage at their side.
Ekpe Udoh was a force to be reckoned with inside the paint with 18 points and 6 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Luigi Datome registered a double-double of 11 points plus 10 rebounds. With 23 points and 4 assists, Thomas Heurtel was the top player for the hosts.
While Anadolu Efes had taken a 40 – 35 at halftime, Fenerbahce was the better team in the second half, especially in the fourth period. With almost 70 seconds to go, the Euroleague finalists made it 82 – 75, but their opponents did not give up.
Efes‘ players forced their guests to make one turnover after the other by putting some extreme pressure on them, while chewing bits and bits of the deficit to make it 81 – 82, 17 seconds before the end. But when the Russian Roulette of the free-throw line began, Obradovic‘s players were good enough to remain ahead in the score until the final buzzer.