By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A fierce battle for Anadolu Efes on the way to the Final Four of the ING Erkekler Turkiye Cup.
Overcoming an early 12-point deficit and a late rally, the team based in Istanbul defeated Manisa, 94-85, in Sinan Erdem Dome on Tuesday.
Will Clyburn scored 22 points, a new individual best across all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign. A 23-point, 10-assist double-double by Shane Larkin included five out of ten three-pointers for the team guided by Tomislav Mijatovic. Darius Thompson and Tibor Pleiss chipped in 11 points apiece.
Rodrigue Beaubois, Elijah Bryant, Dogus Ozdemiroglu, Justus Hollatz, Daniel Oturu, Mike Daum, and Derek Willis were sidelined for the reigning league champions in Turkiye.
For the visitors, Emanuel Terry drew a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double. Daron Russell followed with 17 points and Pako Cruz had 15 points.
Moving to Konya, Efes will face Pinar Karsiyaka in the Semifinals on Friday.
The Izmir outfit overpowered Galatasaray Ekmas, 88-72, in Karsiyaka Arena later Tuesday. Vitto Brown produced 25 points, Vernon Carey Jr. posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Errick McCollum paired 12 points with eight assists for the team coached by Ufuk Sarica. Standing out for the Lions, Klemen Prepelic recorded a team-high 19 points.
On Wednesday, Besiktas Emlakjet and Bahcesehir Koleji are meeting each other in Istanbul and Aliaga Petkimspor is hosting Fenerbahce Beko. Winners shape the opposite side of the bracket in the Semifinals.
The championship game of the Final Four will be held on Sunday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net