By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Storming back from a double-digit deficit, Anadolu Efes topped Fenerbahce Beko, 97-91, Wednesday.
Vasilije Micic put in 12 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 pushing Ergin Ataman’s side to a 2-1 in the Semifinals best-of-five series of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Playoffs. Besides making 8/12 field goals, including 3/3 three-pointers, the Serbian guard added six assists and three rebounds over 34 minutes.
Trailing by 11 points in the third quarter, the hosts completed the comeback with an 11-0 run midway in the fourth quarter. Following Melih Mahmutoglu’s fourth triple, Micic broke the last tie with 1:23 on the clock. “Fighting until the end was very important for us. Fenerbahce did not give up,” the top performer commented on the exciting contest.
Elijah Bryant chipped in 21 points and Will Clyburn had 20 points. Tibor Pleiss combined 17 points with a game-high nine rebounds.
Despite connecting 16/29 from beyond the arc, the visitors fell short at Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu. Scottie Wilbekin registered a game-high 23 points and Nigel Hayes-Davis followed with 21 points in the losing effort.
Immediately after the game, head coach Dimitris Itoudis used a laptop to present game footage and argue questionable calls made by the referees.
Adding to complaints, Fener followed with a press release. “The result was not decided by coaching tactics nor the effort of both teams on the court,” reads the announcement, “This game was handed to our opponent Efes by the three referees appointed by the Turkish Basketball Federation.”
Houston Rockets center, 2021 BSL MVP Alperen Sengun was in attendance.
Closing the deal at home?
Between injuries and squad restrictions, Rodrigue Beaubois, Chris Singleton, Ante Zizic, and Bryant Dunston were the players left out by Efes in Game 3. On the opposite end, Metecan Birsen, Sehmus Hazer, Carsen Edwards, Nemanja Bjelica, Tonye Jekiri, Tyler Dorsey, Devin Booker, and Kostas Antetokounmpo did not dress for the team coached by Itoudis.
Game 4, at the same venue, Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu, attached to a clinching opportunity for Ataman and his players, will be held on Friday. Game 5, if necessary, would set the Istanbul rivals in Ulker Sports Arena for a deciding contest.
On the other side of the bracket and battling for a spot in the Finals, top-seeded Turk Telekom and fourth-seeded Pinar Karsiyaka are tied 1-1. The series switches to Izmir’s Mustafa Kemal Spor Salonu with Game 3 Thursday and Game 4 Saturday.
Photo Credit: Anadolu Efes SK Twitter