By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a classic showdown with a rather heated background given Zeljko Obradovic’s and Ergin Ataman’s “beef”, Anadolu Efes defeated Fenerbahce 83 – 80 to qualify in the Turkish Cup semifinals.
This is the second consecutive season which Efes eliminates Fener in the tournament and it happened again in a quarterfinal clash.
Bryant Dunston scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds for the winning squad. Errick McCollum added 15 points, as many as Krunoslav Simon who also hit a pair of key free throws in the final minute.
With the score 80 – 81 and 17 seconds remaining, Fenerbahce fouled Simon who proceeded to make 2/2 from the line. Zeljko Obradovic’s players found some perimeter shots but the attempts by Brad Wanamaker, Nicolo Melli and then Wanamaker again, went off target.
Fenerbahce had made it a one-point match following a comeback from a 16-point deficit that their opponents had grabbed in the mid of the third period after a basket by Dunston.
Jan Vesely finished with 18 points and six rebounds while Marko Guduric notched 17 points, 7 assists and four boards for Fenerbahce.
Anadolu Efes will now meet Darussafaka, that beat Eskisehir earlier, in the first semifinal of the tournament.