By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Starting the Playoffs as the fourth seed, Pinar Karsiyaka will face third-seeded Anadolu Efes in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi best-of-five championship series.
The team coached by Turkish tactician Ufuk Sarica edged out top-seeded Turk Telekom, 94-90, to win the Semifinals best-of-five series, 3-1, on Saturday.
Leading the way in Game 4, Dominican center Angel Delgado and veteran combo guard Errick McCollum poured 21 points apiece. Kenan Sipahi finished with 15 points. Additional double-digit scoring contributions in the form of Vitto Brown and Braian Angola logging 12 points each.
The visiting side at Mustafa Kemal Spor Salonu went up by 13 points late in the first quarter but surrendered the lead before the end of the first half. Reigning MVP of the 7DAYS EuroCup Jerian Grant scored 21 points and season MVP of Turkey’s BSL Tyrique Jones posted a 20-point, 15-rebound double-double in the last game of the season.
The last appearance in the Finals was in 2015, during the first stint of Sarica at the Izmir outfit. Then as the fourth seed, Karsiyaka beat then second-seeded Efes, 4-2, to win the domestic league championship for the second time in team history. The run included knocking out top-seeded Fenerbahce Ulker in the Semifinals.
Focusing on the 2023 Playoffs, Karsiyaka recovered from a Game 1 loss with three straight wins to clinch the berth. Efes lost by a margin of 42 points in the series opener but eventually eliminated the Istanbul rival Fenerbahce Beko yesterday, Friday.