By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pinar Karsiyaka is on the verge of Turkis Basketball Super Lig finals after defeating Turk Telekom Ankara 86-81 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Angel Delgado again led the team from Izmir with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, but Karsiyaka had five more players in double figures.
Brian Angola finished with 14 points, Vitto Brown had 13 and seven rebounds, Kenan Sipahi scored 13, Erick McCollum added 12, and Thomas Akyazili scored 10 points.
For Turk Telekom, Jerian Grant excelled with 19 points, Axel Bouteille and Tony Taylor added 15 each, with the French guard grabbing seven rebounds.
Turk Telekom had control in the first 15 minutes, leading up to 12 points in the second quarter, but the hosts turned the game around with a 12-0 run and gained a 36-35 lead before the break.
EuroCup finalists got in front again in the third period, leading all the way and entering the decisive 10 minutes with a 56-52 lead. Ufuk Sarica’s squad refused to give up and, with an 11-0 run in the final quarter, turned the score around again and even made an eight-point surplus.
Turk Telekom fought back after a couple of turnovers from the hosts and came within two points, but Karsiyaka refocused and saved the lead to win the game.
Pinar Karsiyaka will have the chance to advance to the finals in Game 4, scheduled for Saturday, June 10, at 17.00 CET in Izmir.
In the other semifinal series, Anadolu Efes also turned the tables with a second consecutive victory over Fenerbahce to take a 2-1 lead.
TBSL semifinals, Game 3 (best-of-five):
Anadolu Efes – Fenerbahce 97-91 /Efes leads 2-1/
Pinar Karsiyaka – Turk Telekom 86-81 /Karsiyaka leads 2-1/