By Bugra Uzar/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce was playing without injured Ekpe Udoh, however the player of coach Zeljko Obradovic knew that they have to get this win in order to stay near the top four spots of the standings. And they did it with ease and Ahmet Duverioglu.
The hosts beat Panathinaikos (84-63) in a game that from wire to wire was under Fenerbahce’s control. The first quarter ended with Fenerbahce leading 27-16, at half time the score was 44-28 with Gigi Datome having already 11 points and the eventual winners had even a 21 points advantage (54-33) at the start of the second half.
The third quarter ended with Panathinaikos trying to get back into the game (60-45), but thanks to a 10-0 run at the start of the last period (70-45) the Greeks were down for good. Datome finished the game with 16 points, Duverioglu added 13 points in his best game yet in EuroLeague, Jan Vesely also had 13 points and Kostas Sloukas scored 12 points.
“Ahmet played well”, said coach Obradovic, “I trust him and he works very hard. As we continue to work, we will continue to give him those opportunities.” The former no1 draft pick Anthony Bennett did not make his debut as Fenerbahce got to a 11-7 record.
Panathinaikos dropped to 10-8, Mike James scored 25 points, but couldn’t make a difference and Chris Singleton was injured during the game in a night that the Greens will not want to remember.