By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Extending the winning streak in dominating style was the case for Fenerbahce Beko.
On the road in Turkey’s BSL Regular Season Round 4 against Manisa and building a comfortable lead early, Fener kept pushing and logged the win by a margin of 35 points, 93-58, Saturday.
Captain Melih Mahmutoglu registered 18 points. Metecan Birsen and Tonye Jekiri both posted double-doubles with 16 points plus ten rebounds and 14 points plus ten rebounds, respectively. Two more double-digit scoring efforts in Carsen Edwards and Ismet Akpinar put in 12 points apiece with playing time spread among available players. Nemanja Bjelica (calf) and Tarik Biberovic (hamstring) were sidelined along with Johnathan Motley, Marko Guduric, and Nick Calathes.
A 4-0 record in the Turkish league, following the 4-0 start in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The eighth consecutive win for Dimitris Itoudis and his players, since losing to Anadolu Efes in the early-season 2022 Turkish Basketball Presidential Cup. The rematch with the Istanbul rival is coming up on Friday in EuroLeague’s Regular Season Round 5.
Another Istanbul derby was held Saturday. Besiktas Emlakjet beat Galatasaray Nef, 74-67, and picked up its first win of the 2022-23 season. Also, Turk Telekom prevailed, 100-92, over Onvo Buyukcekmece going up to 3-1. Bahcesehir Koleji edged Yukatel Merkezefendi, 79-78.
In the BSL Round 4 opener, Rob Gray set his season-high at 32 points lifting Tofas to the away win, 83-72, against Pinar Karsiyaka Friday evening. Both Basketball Champions League participants now sit at 3-1 at the domestic level.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net