By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After losing Game 1 of the BSL Semifinals series against Fenerbahce, Anadolu Efes got back on track by winning on the road 92-90 thanks to Will Clyburn’s 32 points, including the game-winning three-pointer.
On the yellow-and-blue side, Johnathan Motley had yet again another great performance, with a 22-point losing effort. Elijah Bryant and Shane Larkin combined for 35 points, while Tarik Biberovic had 17 points, including a three-pointer to reduce the gap to one single point with nine seconds left.
After a great start by Fenerbahce, ending the first quarter up 25-16, Anadolu Efes came back and got a nine-point lead with 8:14 left in the fourth quarter. The home side got control of the game with only two seconds left, going up 90-89 before Will Clyburn beat the buzzer to make Efes tie the series 1-1 before moving to the Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu.
Dimitris Itoudis didn’t have Sehmus Hazer, Carsen Edwards, Tyler Dorsey, Metecan Birsen, Nemanja Bjelica, Tonye Jekiri, Devin Booker, and Kostas Antetokounmpo, while Ergin Ataman had to do without Rodrigue Beaubois, Chris Singleton, and Ante Zizic.
In Game 1, the yellow-and-blue side destroyed the back-to-back EuroLeague champions in 2021 and 2022, ending the game with a 42-point margin, winning 108-66, and setting a new BSL record. Dimitris Itoudis’ team was dragged by Johnathan Motley and Nigel Hayes-Davis, who combined for 33 points.
In the other semifinal series, Turk Telekom Ankara took the 1-0 lead against Pinar Karsiyaka by beating Errick McCollum‘s team 98-94 in the first game of their best-of-five series. Game 2 between the EuroCup runner-up and the Basketball Champions League side will be played on June 6 at 19:00 CET.
TBSL Semifinals schedule and results
Fenerbahce – Anadolu Efes, G1: 108-66
Fenerbahce – Anadolu Efes, G2: 90-92
Anadolu Efes – Fenerbahce, G3 (07/06 at 19:00 CET)
Turk Telekom Ankara – Pinar Karsiyaka, G1: 98-94
Turk Telekom Ankara – Pinar Karsiyaka, G2 (06/06 at 19:00 CET)
Pinar Karsiyaka – Turk Telekom Ankara, G3 (08/06 at 19:00 CET)