By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Leading from start to finish and keeping a safe distance, Galatasaray Ekmas eliminated Bertram Derthona Tortona and qualified for the Round of 16 of the Basketball Champions League.
On Tuesday, settling for a 95-89 victory ended the Play-In series in Gameday 2.
Klemen Prepelic was the top performer, packing a 17-point, 12-assist double-double and highlighting the sixth consecutive win across all competitions. Sadik Emir Kabaca threw in 15 points and Dee Bost added 14 more points. More double-digit showings behind Jonah Radebaugh’s 13 points and Corey Walden’s 12 points. Ismet Akpinar and Jarell Martin were out.
Sweeping the best-of-three series was combined with the first four-game BCL winning streak in Sinan Erdem Dome. Heading to the next stage in brilliant form, the team coached by Zvezdan Mitrovic plays in Group J against JDA Dijon and Telekom Baskets Bonn. The winner of the Play-In series between MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and Darussafaka Lassa will complete the picture of the six-game round-robin schedule.
Falling into an 18-point fall in the first half, Walter De Raffaele’s side did not give up, but comeback bids fell way short of a lead. Pepperdine product Colbey Ross with 21 points set his top scoring performance in the 2023-24 campaign. Chris Dowe and Riccardo Tavernelli stayed on the injury list.
Exiting the Champions League, the Italian club shifts focus to the domestic league. At 6-9, it sits between the Playoffs and Relegation zones of Italy’s LBA UnipolSai.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League