By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite rumors about late payments to the players and without punished Nolan Smith, Galatasaray beat Valencia (71-64) in a game of pride for the Turkish side, which got its first win in this season’s Euroleague.
Galatasaray was impressive during the first half, not letting Valencia score. The guests had 7/30 shots after 19 minutes of action and the half time score was 47-24 for the hosts. However the story was quite different in the second half, as Valencia got close to the 10 points mark (62-50) after 30 minutes of action and got within five (69-64) with 1,5 minutes to go. Luke Harangody (16 p., 6 r.) was the man behind the come back, but no one could score until 3 second before the end and a lay up by Martynas Pocius who sealed the final score. To be exact, those two baskets were the only points registered in the last 3,5 minutes of the game in a final quarter with a partial 14-9 score in favor of Valencia. Carlos Arroyo with 16 points and 5 assists was once again Galatasaray’s leader.
After the game coach Ergin Ataman of Galatasaray once more repeated that Smith can’t continue wearing Galata’s jersey, however the financial issues of the team seem to be a problem in finding his possible replacement. Αs Ataman said: “Our agenda as the moment is not to sign a new player, but to satisfy our own”.