By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The 2025–26 EuroLeague Playoffs officially tipped off.
Defending champions Fenerbahce opened their campaign at home in Istanbul against Zalgiris and, after 40 intense minutes, secured a 89-78 win to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Tarik Biberovic led the way for Fenerbahce with 26 points, shooting 6/8 from beyond the arc. He had plenty of support, as Wade Baldwin followed with 17 points and five rebounds, Nicolo Melli added 13 points and five boards, while Talen Horton-Tucker finished with 15 points.
On the other side, Nigel Williams-Goss stood out with 24 points and six assists, Moses Wright followed with 19 points and five rebounds, while Sylvain Francisco added 15 points along with six assists. Azoulas Tubelis also reached double figures with 11 points.
Fenerbahce builds cushion, withstands Zalgiris rally
Fenerbahce trailed early (4-10) amid half-court struggles, but responded after Wade Baldwin’s entry, tightening up defensively and taking a 22-20 lead by the end of the first quarter. The hosts took control in the second period, dominating the glass and going on a 7-0 run to push the margin into double digits, with Tarik Biberovic heating up from long range as the lead grew to 47-29 at halftime.
Zalgiris responded in the third quarter, capitalizing on turnovers and putting together a 16-4 run to cut the deficit, as the game entered the final period at 65-57. In the fourth, Fenerbahce maintained control, keeping a steady cushion while getting key contributions from Nicolo Melli and Bonzie Colson, who helped extend the lead back to double digits midway through the quarter and secure the win.