By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With the score 79 – 79 and two minutes left, Kostas Sloukas scored seven points, lifting Fenerbahce to an 86 – 81 victory over Banvit at home in Game 1 of the Turkish league best-of-five semifinal series.
Among the Greek combo guard’s baskets was the one that practically sealed Fener‘s win. After Tony Taylor scored for the 84 – 81 with 37 seconds remaining, Sloukas slashed through the defense of Banvit and made a lay-up to put his team at a two-possession distance, with 22 seconds left to play.
Banvit failed turned the ball over in the next offense and lost despite putting up a great fight vs. the defending champions.
Sloukas finished with 16 points plus four assists while James Nunnally had a team-high 22 points for Fenerbahce. Nicolo Melli flirted with the triple-double by posting 10 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
Angelo Caloiaro stood out from Banvit with a game-high 29 points, five assists and five rebounds. Taylor added 21 points and seven assists.