By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fighting off the late comeback bid, top-seeded Turk Telekom defeated Galatasaray Nef, 94-85, for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series of Turkey’s Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Quarterfinals.
Setting a new personal best for the 2022-23 season, Jerian Grant dropped 28 points with 10/14 field goals in Friday’s contest. The reigning MVP of 7DAYS EuroCup added five rebounds and four assists building a game-high efficiency rating of 32.
Receiving the award of BSL’s season MVP before Game 1, Tyrique Jones delivered yet another efficient showing packing 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the team coached by Erdem Can.
Türkiye Sigorta Süper Ligi normal sezon MVP’si olan Tyrique Jones’a Play-Off maçı öncesi ödül takdim edildi. #AnkaraBasketbolu #KazanmakİçinOyna #Kaizen pic.twitter.com/Bc6Z1weIhz
— Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) May 26, 2023
The visitors guided by Zvezdan Mitrovic dug their way out of an early 14-point hole, but failed to tackle a new double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. Dylan Ennis registered 21 points to go with five assists and five rebounds in the losing effort in Ankara Arena.
Karsiyaka survives overtime thriller
After leading for nearly 37 straight minutes, Pinar Karsiyaka managed to save the day in overtime with a 91-83 victory versus Frutti Extra Bursaspor in Karsiyaka Arena.
Fueling the win for the fourth-seeded side, veteran combo guard Errick McCollum dropped a game-high 25 points. Jaylon Brown chipped in 19 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Vitto Brown followed with 17 points for the team coached by Ufuk Sarica.
Despite the brilliant rally, Dusan Alimpijevic’s side fell short of claiming the homecourt advantage. Yigitcan Saybir fouled out in the extra period with a team-high 22 points. Leading scorer, Onuralp Bitim hurt his right foot but returned in crunch time ending up with four points over 15 minutes.
The rest of the Quarterfinals tip off tomorrow, Saturday. Third-seeded Anadolu Efes will welcome sixth-seeded Darussafaka Lassa in Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu and second-seeded Fenerbahce Beko will face seventh-seeded Tofas in Ulker Sports Arena.
The Game 2 schedule stretches from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net