By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Unicaja made its EuroLeague return in the most spectacular way, after prevailing over reigning champions Fenerbahce with 68-67.
The star: It was a team effort, yet Dragan Milosavljevic was the leading scorer on the team with 15 points, while Giorgi Shermadini followed with 13.
The turning point: A 13-0 run by the hosts and 7 scoreless minutes by Fenerbahce had shifted the momentum of the game. Despite keeping a narrow lead, Unicaja managed to defend its home court.
The hosts opened the game with a 6-0 run, yet six minutes in the game Fenerbahce didn’t hesitate to take the initiative, leading with 13-8. Milosavljevic gave the Spanish side the initiative again with a goal-foul (17-15), while the first period ended with an even score, 20-20.
The Turkish side grabbed a 9-0 lead by the middle of the second period. Just when Fener had grabbed a double-digit lead, Musli (9 p.) made the score 24-32. While he took charge for Unicaja, the hosts were down 36-41 at halftime.
With a three-pointer by Milosavljevic, the hosts approached again (45-43 at 23′), yet the visiting team was unstoppable since and dominated 57-50 at 30′.
Just when one could think the game was over, McCallum (6 p.) turned the tables of the game with 2 back-to-back shots, while Augustine (6 p. )gave the initiative back to the hosts, 60-57. The pressure kept rising, yet the hosts kept their composure until the end.