By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a game that will be mostly remembered from its cinematic thriller- like intensity, rather than its basketball quality, Darussafaka Dogus edged Crvena Zvezda 69 – 66, thanks to a golden 3pointer by Ender Arslan in the last minute of the match.
It was the first victory ever for the Turkish team in the Top 16, since Darussafaka Dogus also plays in the Euroleague for the first time in the club’s history. Semih Erden did a great good job, not only by being his team’s top scorer (14 p.) and rebounder (5.) but mainly because he played excellent defense on one of the best centers in the competition, Maik Zirbes. Red Star missed the strong inside game of the German pivot as also Quincy Miller’s scoring. Only Tarence Kinsey (16 p.) performed close to his usual standards.
After 38 minutes of tough battles on both ends of court, poor execution by both teams (5/16 from behind the arc for Darussafaka and 5/20 for Crvena Zvezda) and many mistakes by both teams, it all came down on who will finish one game changing play.
With the score 66 – 66, Maik Zirbes lost two consecutive free throws with 90 seconds to go. Darussafaka threw away a good deal of open shots, Yet the players of Oktay Mahmuti got one offensive rebound after the other, and were probably relieved seeing Ender Arslan banging the downtown basket for the 69 – 66!
The hosts proceeded to play the necessary defense but Red Star had another chance to tie the match. Darussafaka didn’t foul and the choice… proved to be right since in a shot sequence almost identical to the one that brought Arslan’s 3, the guests lost a pair of wide open shots that would have sent them to overtime, if at least one of them was made.