By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After 10 consecutive defeats and for the first time since… 2011, Fenerbahce beat Galatasaray on the road, 82 – 75 making the 3-1 in the semifinals and advancing to the Turkish League’s finals. There, coach Obradovic and his players will face Anadolu Efes who had waited their opponents after sweeping Darussafaka Dogus.
It was a match surrounded by an intense background and with zero fan-presence, since Galatasaray received a punishment by the Turkish Basketball Federation after the incidents of Game 3.
The two teams showed two completely different pictures in the two halves of the game. While the “Cimbom” managed to get a 12-point difference, 46 – 34, at the beginning of the third quarter, their opponents answered with an impressive 5 – 18 partial score, getting the lead 51 – 52.
Although the hosts initially pushed back their guests, Fenerbahce dominated the fourth quarter, making it 65 – 75 with three minutes to go. When Bobby Dixon sank a bit downtown bucket from the corner for the 69 – 80, almost one minute before the final buzzer he practically sealed the final outcome and his team’s qualification to the title-series.
The American guard was also the first scorer for his team with 18 points, while Melih Mahmutoglu added 16 points of his own with 4/6 from behind the arc.
It might have been the end of the road for Galatasaray but nevertheless, it was a generally successful season considering the fact that the team won the Eurocup and will play in the 2016/2017 Euroleague. The trio of Errick McCollu, Stephane Lasme and Sinan Guler had 15 points each.