By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being eliminated from the Basketball Champions League, Pinar Karsiyaka rebounds in style recording a 78-73 victory over Anadolu Efes at home Sunday.
Bonzie Colson paved the way with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, three days after the team coached by Ufuk Sarica lost the BCL Play-In Game 3 contest at Lenovo Tenerife. Going up to 12-6 in Turkey’s BSL certainly shaped an enjoyable recovery.
Experienced forward/center Alex Tyus added 17 points. Can Korkmaz followed with 15 points in the Regular Season Round 18 contest.
The visitors missing Shane Larkin, Chris Singleton, Dogus Balbay, Elijah Bryant, Tibor Pleiss, James Anderson, and Filip Petrusev suited up ten players. Vasilije Micic ending up with 21 points was not enough to prevent the drop to 13-4.
On the other hand, it had to be noted that Karsiyaka was also missing Michael Roll, Semih Erden, Amath M’Baye and James Blackmon.
The defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions guided by Ergin Ataman were coming off three wins in a row across all competitions, including Friday’s victory at the buzzer against Panathinaikos OPAP. Next Thursday, the team located in Istanbul is scheduled to visit Zenit Saint Petersburg in EuroLeague Regular Season Round 23.
Fener up to 15-3
Fellow EuroLeague Turkish side, Fenerbahce Beko, shorthanded as well, earned the win, 84-73, against Bahcesehir Koleji. Marial Shayok, Ismet Akpinar, Nando de Colo, Danilo Barthel, and Jan Vesely stayed on the injury list, Dyshawn Pierre was also sidelined, but Devin Booker led the way with 15 points. Achille Polonara, Pierria Henry, and Sehmus Hazer added 13 points each.
After improving the BSL-leading record to 15-3, the team guided by Sasha Djordjevic is projected to meet Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a EuroLeague Regular Season Round 23 game Thursday. Following on Sunday, a domestic clash with Efes.
Earlier, Tofas blew out Darussafaka, 81-65, jumping to 11-7 and dropping its opponent to 13-5. Tomislav Zubcic tallied 20 points and Yigit Arslan had 18 points.
Turk Telekom went up to 7-11 after routing Buyukcekmece, 86-62.
Sunday results:
Tofas – Darussafaka 81-65
Turk Telekom – Buyukcekmece 86-62
Pinar Karsiyaka – Anadolu Efes 78-73
Fenerbahce Beko – Bahcesehir Koleji 84-73