By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being sidelined since November with a groin injury, Shane Larkin is officially on track to return for Anadolu Efes on Wednesday.
Just hours before tipoff in the 2026 Ziraat Bankasi Turkiye Kupasi Quarterfinals against Bahcesehir Koleji at the Sinan Erdem Dome, Efes confirmed that their 33-year-old star guard is available for head coach Pablo Laso. Larkin’s return provides a massive boost to the rotation, marking his first appearance since undergoing surgery in early December. Barring any setbacks, his presence will also reinforce Efes during the critical final stretch of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season.
The roster also receives a significant defensive lift as Nick Weiler-Babb (ankle) and Vincent Poirier (knee) have been cleared to play. However, the frontcourt remains shorthanded since Rolands Smits is still out with a thigh strain, and Georgios Papagiannis remains sidelined as he continues his long-term recovery from knee surgery.
Tedavileri süren üç oyuncumuzun bugün kadroda yer almalarına engel bulunmuyor:
*Shane Larkin (kasık)
*Nick Weiler-Babb (ayak bileği)
*Vincent Poirier (diz)İki oyuncumuz ise sakatlıkları sebebiyle sahaya çıkamayacaklar:
*Rolands Smits (uyluk)
*Georgios Papagiannis (diz) pic.twitter.com/s4oR86cpsj— Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) February 18, 2026
In earlier tournament action, Fenerbahce Beko and Turk Telekom advanced to the Semifinals on Tuesday after knocking out Safiport Erokspor and Trabzonspor, respectively. The remaining two Quarterfinal slots will be decided today, as Besiktas Gain visits Bursa’s Tofas Arena to face Tofas, followed by the Istanbul derby between Efes and Bahcesehir.
The Final Four will take place at the Sinan Erdem Dome, with the Semifinals scheduled for Friday and the championship game on Sunday.
Turkiye Kupasi 2026
Quarterfinals
Turk Telekom – Trabzonspor 100-77
Safiport Erokspor – Fenerbahce Beko 76-83
Tofas – Besiktas Gain (16:00 CET)
Bahcesehir Koleji – Anadolu Efes (18:30 CET)
Semifinals (20/2)
Fenerbahce Beko – Turk Telekom
Tofas / Besiktas Gain – Bahcesehir Koleji / Anadolu Efes
Final (22/2)
Winners of Semifinals