There couldn’t be a better way to open the domestic league season, as the yellow-and-blue side dismantled the newcomer Cagdas Bodrumspor with a 37-point margin (95-58).

Preparing for the first game of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season at home against Olimpia Milano, Fenerbahce won the first official game of the BSL season with 17 points from its highest-scorer Tyler Dorsey.

Other notable performances came from the hands of Yam Madar, who went close to a double-double with 7 points and 12 assists, and Nigel Hayes, who had the usual all-around performance with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. On the losing side, Dominic Artis had 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Earlier in the day in Turkey, Darussafaka beat Besiktas thanks to a clutch buzzer-beater by Kyle Allman, who ended with 13 points. On the black-and-white team, the former ASVEL guard Jonah Mathews had 16 points in the losing effort. David Efianayi, instead, led Petkim Spor to the win against Pinar Karsiyaka with 23 points and 5 rebounds.

Kyle Allman (@kyleallmanjr) wishes you guys a great Sunday with his clutch buzzer-beater to beat Besiktas. So hyped to see him at work in the Basketball Champions League with Darussafaka.pic.twitter.com/PhFEa1tcbd

— Cesare Milanti (@cesaremilanti) October 1, 2023

BSL 2023-24 – Round 1 results:

Manisa – Bahcesehir 90-88
Merkezefendi – Galatasaray 77-93
Tofas Bursa – Samsunspor 104-91
Anadolu Efes – Büyükçekmece 89-78
Turk Telekom Ankara – Bursaspor 72-68
Petkim Spor – Pinar Karsiyaka 81-69
Darussafaka – Besiktas 64-61
Fenerbahce – Cagdas Bodrumspor 95-58

PHOTO CREDIT: Fenerbahce’s X profile

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Erdem Can started his reign at Anadolu Efes with a win, as his team opened the 2023/24 season in the BSL with a comfortable 89-78 victory over Buyukcekmece.

Will Clyburn led the Istanbul team with 16 points, while talented Emre Melih Tunca shined with 14 points in 14 minutes. Rodrigue Beaubois and the summer signing Darius Thompson added 11 points each, while Ercan Osmani and Erten Gazi finished the match with 10 points apiece. Ante Zizic had a solid overall game with nine points, seven rebounds, three assist and blocks for a PIR of 16 (tied with Clyburn).

For Buyukcekmece Marcquise Reed and Evan Bruinsma scored 18 points each, Devonte Upson followed them with 12, while Kendrick Ray added 10 points.

After a tied first quarter, which Buyukcekmece won 26-25, Efes took control in the second period, going into halftime with a comfortable 48-38 lead. The guests gave a good fight to Erdem Can’s team, but couldn’t erase the deficit, so the hosts entered the final 10 minutes with a 72-59 lead. Soon in the fourth period, it was clear that Buyukcekmece couldn’t threaten Efes’ lead. The hosts grabbed an 80-61 lead and routinely put the game to bed.

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Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Beko must consider Shane Larkin and Scottie Wilbekin, respectively, as foreign players in their domestic league.

With all teams participating in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi forced to deal with restrictions on foreign players available for each game, the Istanbul giants will now attach Wilbekin and Larkin to such roster options, instead of fitting them in the lineup without issue.

Following the fines and suspensions issued by the Turkish Basketball Federation, both combo guards will lose domestic player status in the league, according to TBF rules. Involved teams, Fener and Efes have the right to appeal but lack grounds for a favorable outcome.

The updated status in the domestic league does not affect participation in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. In contrast to domestic leagues across Europe, club continental competitions, including the EuroLeague, do not carry restrictions on foreign players.

Missing the Olympic Games Pre-Qualifying Tournament

Both players have represented Turkiye as naturalized players in major international tournaments. Larkin played in the 2022 EuroBasket and Wilbekin was on the roster for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, besides boosting the senior national team in various Qualifiers contests over the last few years.

Upon completion of the investigation for failing to report this summer, Larkin and Wilbekin were sanctioned with a five-game suspension to serve at the top of the 2023-24 edition of BSL and a fine of 90,000 Turkish lira, approximately 3,000 euros.

Without a player to cover the single available naturalized spot on the roster, the team coached by Ergin Ataman was defeated by Croatia in the deciding game and ranked second in the recent Olympic Games Pre-Qualifying Tournament held in Istanbul, therefore missing the opportunity to clinch a berth in next summer’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Larkin, 30, publicly disagreed with the sanctions via a lengthy message posted through a story on his personal Instagram account. Revealing his side of the story and continuous efforts to help the national team, he stressed being unable to play in the tournament due to a nagging knee injury, confirmed by the medical team of the federation.

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After returning to Pınar Karsiyaka for the 2022-23 season, Kenan Sipahi signs a new two-year deal with the team.

Sipahi played his whole career in Turkey apart from short stints in Span when he wore the  Betis and Zaragoza jersey.

He started playing professional basketball in Tofas, and after that, he played for three seasons in Fenerbahce under  Zeljko Obradovic. He also played in Besiktas

2022-23 sezonunda kadromuzda yer alan Kenan Sipahi, 2 yıl daha Pınar Karşıyaka’mızda! pic.twitter.com/aefrrLCpC4

— Pınar Karşıyaka (@KSKBasket) June 25, 2023

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Manisa Metropolitan Belediyespor, one of the Turkish Basketball Super League teams, is strengthening its squad with a significant reinforcement before the new season.

According to Eurohoops sources, Manisa BBSK has tied Daron “Fatts” Russell, who transferred to Galatasaray NEF in January and stood out with his scoring skills, to his colors for one year.

The quarterback, who was not selected in the 2022 NBA Draft after a four-year college career in the USA, started his professional basketball career with the Mornar Bar jersey before the 2022-23 season.

The 25-year-old American, who transferred to the yellow-red team from Mornar Bar, where he played with averages of 26.8 points and 7.3 assists in the middle of the season, played 14 games in Galatasaray NEF in BSL, averaging 13.0 points and 5.4 assists. Daron Russell had 15.7 points and 3.7 assists in 6 games in the Basketball Champions League.

UPDATE: The deal was officially by the team announced on Wednesday. The explosive point guard inked a contract for the 2023-24 season.

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Vasilije Micic after winning the championship in the Turkish BSL implied that he may not be heading to the NBA after all.

Micic, who is now represented in the US by Wasserman and his NBA rights belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder, spoke about the season that ended and also about his possible future with Anadolu Efes.

While this may not mean something, Micic practically said that he is eager for another run to the EuroLeague title: “I don’t think we had a very unsuccessful season in the EuroLeague. There was a new situation for us too. Shane Larkin was injured and absent for a long time. Shane Larkin was my favorite teammate. Krunoslav Simon was not there, and I missed him very much. “We played well lately, we found a good rhythm, but it wasn’t enough for the playoffs. We were humble, that is, we did not take the results personally. Finally, we finished the season well. If we protect the core for the next season too… I think we have a special team, special individuals. We are a good team. I don’t think we failed this season. I think we have a lot to learn about each other.”

It has to be noted that Micic has already a contract for next season with Efes, however, it includes an NBA out and for the past two summers, there has always been talk about him making the jump to the NBA.

With coach Ergin Ataman leaving, Micic talked also about a five-year cycle of the team which is closing after winning among other achievements back-to-back EuroLeague titles: “I feel very happy. I am happy for my team. We’ve been here for five years and it’s a very long period when you look at it. The core of the team has been together for 5 years. Coach, medical team, everyone… First of all, I want to congratulate them. For what they did for us and for me. Congratulations to Pınar Karşıyaka. They had a great season. Very dangerous opponents. It was not easy to win a difficult team in the Turkish League. Winning a championship is great”.

On a personal note, he admitted that his season had ups and downs and he made a special mention about the marquee newcomer of last summer, Will Clyburn: “First of all, I played 2 disastrous matches against Fenerbahçe, not just one. When I play a bad game, I try not to stay in the moment. There is always a new chance and I think I am committed to basketball. My teammates also know how hard I work. I especially want to congratulate Will Clyburn. I was so scared when he got injured in the last game. I had the same injury. I’m also very happy that Clyburn is doing well”.

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Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman is leaving Istanbul as a champion to continue his career with Panathinaikos.

While this is no news at this point, Ataman spoke about the next chapter of his career after winning one more championship title in Turkey with Efes

As he stated: “All my life, I’ve been challenged. Panathinaikos is also a new challenge for me. I will try to represent my country in the best way in Greece. Anadolu Efes is my basketball home and I wish them success for the upcoming season. We wrote a great story for five years. We started the season trying to shoot for a third EuroLeague title but it didn’t work, it ended with a drama. We failed. For the first time, we failed Anadolu Efes in the EuroLeague. But everything is over now in Efes, Ergin Ataman is already leaving, when it is said that this team will not finish the season, and moreover Fenerbahçe will prevail. After the 42-point defeat by them, we resurrected and remembered our character. We put our heart, strength, and character on the court. Our character never gives up”.

Speaking about the Turkish league finals, Ataman added: “First of all, I have to congratulate Karsıyaka, they fought very well. They showed how good a team they are by coming to the finals. There was a heavy atmosphere and it is very meaningful to win the third match and become the champion here, on the road. We remembered that we were a team again in the playoffs, and our injuries got better. Two competitions were played in Turkey this season. The Cup is already in our museum and now the Basketball Super League championship will be in our museum at the end of the season. I am proud of that”.

Of course, Ataman admitted that the main goal was a historic EuroLeague three-peat: “I am sorry for the EuroLeague. We had a dream, so we set out to do something that no one else could do, but we failed, we couldn’t make the playoffs. If we could make the playoffs, a lot could have happened there too, but it didn’t happen. It’s not easy for me. After all these years, I worked at Anadolu Efes not like a professional, but like an amateur. I will be happy if I can be called the legend of Anadolu Efes in the future.  We were all demoralized from not reaching our goal in the EuroLeague. It’s a fact, but it’s a sport, sometimes it just doesn’t happen. In my 5-year Anadolu Efes adventure, there were three EuroLeague finals, two of which have been won. It was a dominant EuroLeague period. This is my third Turkish league championship with Efes. There are also Presidential and Turkish Cup championships. I am at peace now”.

On a personal note, Ataman added: “A change was needed. We decided on this together with our president. I think it will be good for both parties. We’ll go our ways, maybe we’ll come back to each other one day. Maybe we’ll come back with a trophy. In Turkey, we have a mission with the national team. It will be the Olympic Qualifiers. I am here, we are all together. I’m going alone, but Sarp (ed.note: his son) will continue to represent me here. Sarp does not come to Athens by saying that he will be in the stands of Efes as a fan”. 

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For the second season in a row, Anadolu Efes is the champion of Turkey. After handling business against Fenerbahce in the semifinals, Efes was dominant against Pinar Karsiyaka winning all three games.

In game 3, Vasilije Micic had a master-class performance helping his team to an 83-74 win, and the 16th championship title in club history.

The Serbian point guard had 29 points and seven assists. Shane Larkin followed with 15 points and seven assists. As for Karsiyaka, Vittorio Brown had 21 points.

A victory for Efes was the perfect way to end an era on a high note, as coach Ergin Ataman will continue his career in Panathinaikos next season.

Efes started the game strong, getting an early 33-28 lead, however at halftime, Karsiyaka had made it a two-point game (48-46).

Even if Efes jumped to a nine-point advantage, by the end of the third period they lead just by one point (64-63) and Karsiyaka thanks to Brown and to Errick McCollum (18 p.) even got the lead back (73-71) in the fourth quarter.

However, the eventual champions finished the game strong with a partial score of 12-1 and secured the win with Micic talking after the final buzzer about staying with the team for next season.

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Anadolu Efes defeated Pinar Karsiyaka 85 – 68 in Game 2 of the Turkish BSL League Finals to go up 2-0 in the best-of-five series. The winning side made a decisive 16-0 run in the fourth period to ultimately reach the final stretch with a large margin.

The trio of Elijah Bryant (23 points, five rebounds), Amath M’Baye (20 points, six assists) and Shane Larkin (18 points) led the offensive efforts of Efes throughout the game. Their team was without star forward Will Clyburn who exited the game with what appeared to be a knee injury after spending 5:44 on the floor.

Errick McCollum scored 18 points and dished out eight assists while Vittorio Brown dropped 16 points for Pinar Karsiyaka. The Izmir side approached 61-58 early in the fourth quarter but Efes answered with a 6-0 run and then 10 unanswered points after a timeout to build a steady double-digit advantage ahead of the final minutes.

Karsiyaka will host Game 4 and Game 5 (if needed) in Izmir.

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After pushing Fenerbahce out of the BSL Playoffs in a controversial best-of-five Semifinals series, Anadolu Efes got the 82-78 win in Game 1 of the Turkish Basketball Super League against Pinar Karsiyaka.

Vasilije Micic led Ergin Ataman’s team with 24 points and 5 assists, while the hero of the Semifinals Will Clyburn contributed with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Elijah Bryant and Amath M’Baye both added 15 points.

On Pinar Karsiyaka’s side, Errick McCollum had 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Braian Angola added 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Mindaugas Kuzminskas had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

After the first half in which Anadolu Efes seemed to easily have the upper hand over Pinar Karsiyaka (43-29), the team from Izmir came back with a 27-19 run in the third quarter. However, the home side ended Game 1 on a winning note.

In the Turkish Basketball Super League Semifinals, Pinar Karsiyaka had the better of the 1st-seed and EuroCup runner-up Turk Telekom Ankara, while Anadolu Efes beat Fenerbahce 3-1. The back-to-back EuroLeague champions in 2021 and 2022 will begin a new era next season with Ergin Ataman leaving for Panathinaikos and Erdem Can joining the team alongside Turkish MVP Tyrique Jones.

BSL Finals schedule and results

Anadolu Efes – Pinar Karsiyaka, G1: 82-78
Anadolu Efes – Pinar Karsiyaka, G2 (15/06 at 19:00 CET)
Pinar Karsiyaka – Anadolu Efes, G3 (17/06 at 17:00 CET)

PHOTO CREDIT: Anadolu Efes

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Starting the Playoffs as the fourth seed, Pinar Karsiyaka will face third-seeded Anadolu Efes in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi best-of-five championship series.

The team coached by Turkish tactician Ufuk Sarica edged out top-seeded Turk Telekom, 94-90, to win the Semifinals best-of-five series, 3-1, on Saturday.

Leading the way in Game 4, Dominican center Angel Delgado and veteran combo guard Errick McCollum poured 21 points apiece. Kenan Sipahi finished with 15 points. Additional double-digit scoring contributions in the form of Vitto Brown and Braian Angola logging 12 points each.

The visiting side at Mustafa Kemal Spor Salonu went up by 13 points late in the first quarter but surrendered the lead before the end of the first half. Reigning MVP of the 7DAYS EuroCup Jerian Grant scored 21 points and season MVP of Turkey’s BSL Tyrique Jones posted a 20-point, 15-rebound double-double in the last game of the season.

The last appearance in the Finals was in 2015, during the first stint of Sarica at the Izmir outfit. Then as the fourth seed, Karsiyaka beat then second-seeded Efes, 4-2, to win the domestic league championship for the second time in team history. The run included knocking out top-seeded Fenerbahce Ulker in the Semifinals.

Focusing on the 2023 Playoffs, Karsiyaka recovered from a Game 1 loss with three straight wins to clinch the berth. Efes lost by a margin of 42 points in the series opener but eventually eliminated the Istanbul rival Fenerbahce Beko yesterday, Friday.

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Preparing for the 2023-24 season and looking to name a new head coach, Besiktas Emlakjet has progressed in talks with Jure Zdovc.

Zdovc, 56, is the main target for the play-caller role at the Istanbul outfit, according to Eurohoops sources.

Igor Milicic took over last December but is expected to part ways with Besiktas. His possible replacement has been a free agent since his departure from Zalgiris in April 2022.

Beşiktaş’ta koç koltuğu için en büyük aday Jure Zdovc.

Detaylar birazdan @EurohoopsTR‘de.

— Semih Tuna (@semih_tuna) June 10, 2023

Besides guiding the team located in Kaunas through most of the 2021-22 season, previous former teams stretch to Metropolitans 92, Olimpija Ljubljana, Cedevita, AEK, Royal Hali Gaziantep, Spartak Saint Petersburg, Bosna, Iraklis, Slovan, and Split. At the international level, he coached Slovenia’s senior national team in two separate spells ranging from the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2015 EuroBasket to the 2009 EuroBasket.

A European champion as a player, back in 1993 as the starting point guard of Limoges CSP, his coaching career has grown over two decades long. Achievements include being named EuroCup Coach of the Year at the midway point of his stay in Saint Petersburg. Landing domestic titles marked stints in Slovenia, Lithuania, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Slovenian tactician is in advanced talks for a return to Turkey. His run with Gaziantep from 2013 to 2015 saw a third-place finish in the 2014 EuroChallenge Final Four held in Bologna’s PalaDozza and a couple of midtable finishes at the domestic level.

Ranking 14th behind a 10-20 record, Besiktas narrowly escaped relegation in the 2022-23 edition of Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi.

Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net

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Fenerbahce Beko board member Sertac Komsuoglu issued a statement regarding Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman after the end of Game 4 of the Turkish BSL semifinals between the two sides.

Komsuoglu’s statement is as follows:

“The opposing team’s coach [Ergin Ataman] can’t make gestures to any Fenerbahce manager. The opposing team’s coach is not our interlocutor. He’s the paid employee of the opposing team. Everyone knows his place. He shouldn’t make such actions in Greece, there are firecrackers and torches thrown on the court, so he wouldn’t understand what can suddenly happen. He’ll be surprised that he’s there. And the cursing of his dear friends who were here swearing at us won’t be enough to save him.”

After Efes won the game to advance to the Finals, Ataman was shown exchanging words with some Fenerbahce representatives who were sitting in the VIP section of the arena. These people, apparently being angered by something, moved aggressively toward Ataman but were stopped by security.

 

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Vasilije Micic scored 27 points and dished out six assists while Elijah Bryant had 25 points, nine rebounds and five dimes as Anadolu Efes defeated Fenerbahce Beko 87 – 78 in Game 4 of the Turkish BSL League semifinals to win the series 3-1.

Bryant hit a big floater to put Efes up 83 – 78 with 47 seconds to play after scoring also the basket off an offensive rebound for the 81 – 72. Scottie Wilbekin took a quick triple but the ball went in and out the rim. On the other end, Micic sealed the win for Efes with a pair of free throws.

Fenerbahce had made it a one-possession game after trailing 79 – 69 with 5:03 remaining. Team captain Melih Mahmutoglu, who hadn’t taken a shot until then, made three triples over less than two minutes to cut the deficit to 81 – 78 but that was the last the visiting side scored in the game.

Wilbekin finished with 18 points and Johnathan Motley had 16 points plus nine rebounds for Fener. Marko Guduric also dropped 16 points including a buzzer-beater from beyond half-court at halftime for the 45 – 41.

GUDURIC FROM BOSPHORUS #BSLpic.twitter.com/gPKvNN1nji

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 9, 2023

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The officiating was on the agenda after Game 3 of the Turkish Basketball Super Lig semifinal series between Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Beko.

Fenerbahce’s coach Dimitris Itoudis complained about various calls, the Club issued an official statement, and Turkish Basketball Federation then decided that the three referees from the match, Aytuğ Ekti, Zafer Yılmaz, and Serdar Ünal, won’t be officiating until the end of the season.

After the decision was made, Aytug Ekti announced that he is ending his refereeing career.

“As a referee within the Turkish Basketball Federation for 30 years, I would like to inform the public that I am ending my career as a referee due to my respect for the refereeing profession, as I condemn and reject the decision of the Turkish Basketball Federation to ‘rest the referees until the end of the season,’ which was made by the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League after 2022-2023 season play-off semifinal match between Efes and Fenerbahçe as a result of the aforementioned technical errors. The term ‘referee’s decision affecting the outcome of the match’ is unacceptable for those of us who are tasked with ensuring fair competition conditions in matches. Still, the Fenerbahçe Management insistently demands greater and more deterrent sanctions.

At this point, my priority in making this decision is my respect for the profession of refereeing, which has been criticized by concluding that the results of the aforementioned match were not technically determined. Thirty years ago, I chose my job as a referee out of respect for my ancestors; I regret that my devotion to fulfill my duty as a referee did not end in the way it deserved, but at the same time, I feel a sense of responsibility to cleanse a professional group from this stigma in a manner befitting the devotion I have shown. In light of human ethical values and sporting moral values, I wish my fellow referees many more successful seasons from now on in which they do not have to explain themselves and their technical decisions to the federations they are responsible for and the teams whose matches they are obliged to officiate, but are subject only to the International Basketball Rules,” Ekti stated.

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Pinar Karsiyaka is on the verge of Turkis Basketball Super Lig finals after defeating Turk Telekom Ankara 86-81 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Angel Delgado again led the team from Izmir with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, but Karsiyaka had five more players in double figures.

Brian Angola finished with 14 points, Vitto Brown had 13 and seven rebounds, Kenan Sipahi scored 13, Erick McCollum added 12, and Thomas Akyazili scored 10 points.

For Turk Telekom, Jerian Grant excelled with 19 points, Axel Bouteille and Tony Taylor added 15 each, with the French guard grabbing seven rebounds.

Turk Telekom had control in the first 15 minutes, leading up to 12 points in the second quarter, but the hosts turned the game around with a 12-0 run and gained a 36-35 lead before the break.

EuroCup finalists got in front again in the third period, leading all the way and entering the decisive 10 minutes with a 56-52 lead. Ufuk Sarica’s squad refused to give up and, with an 11-0 run in the final quarter, turned the score around again and even made an eight-point surplus.

Turk Telekom fought back after a couple of turnovers from the hosts and came within two points, but Karsiyaka refocused and saved the lead to win the game.

Pinar Karsiyaka will have the chance to advance to the finals in Game 4, scheduled for Saturday, June 10, at 17.00 CET in Izmir.

In the other semifinal series, Anadolu Efes also turned the tables with a second consecutive victory over Fenerbahce to take a 2-1 lead.

TBSL semifinals, Game 3 (best-of-five):

Anadolu Efes – Fenerbahce 97-91 /Efes leads 2-1/
Pinar Karsiyaka – Turk Telekom 86-81 /Karsiyaka leads 2-1/

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Anadolu Efes defeated Fenerbahce Beko 97-91 in Game 3 of the TBSL semifinal series, taking a 2-1 lead, and after the match coach of the losing side, Dimitris Itoudis made various objections against calls made by the referees.

Fenerbahce also released a public statement, and Turkish Basketball Federation responded, saying in an official announcement that the three referees from the match won’t be officiating until the end of the season.

“Although we are extremely satisfied with the general performance of our referees since the beginning of the season, the whistles played in the fourth quarter of the match played between Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahçe Beko at the Istanbul Sinan Erdem Sports Hall in the third match of the play-off semi-finals of the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League affected the end of the match. Although I am sure that there was no malicious intent, in my capacity as the Vice President of the Basketball Federation responsible for the Central Arbitration Board, it upsets me personally.

The Central Referee Board, which dealt with the issue with all its technical details, decided to rest the three referees of the match played yesterday with a similar assessment until the end of the season.

I am very pleased with the quality of basketball, both technical and spectacle, in the play-off semi-finals of the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League between Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahçe Beko, our two distinguished clubs that represent our country abroad with their achievements that we are proud of and add great strength and color to our basketball with their competition in our league.

I fully believe that a playoff series where the fight on the field is discussed, not the referees, will continue,” TBF’s vice-president Kemal Dincer stated.

Game 4 will be held at the same venue Friday. Fener possibly recovering the homecourt advantage would force a do-or-die Game 5 in Ulker Sports Arena. The advancing side will face Turk Telekom or Pinar Karsiyaka in the championship best-of-five series.

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Coming out of a tight affair and narrow loss for Fenerbahce Beko, Greek tactician Dimitris Itoudis used a laptop to present objections on various calls made by the referees.

“Different criteria were applied in regards to the referees today,” the Fener boss compared Game 3 to Game 2 of the best-of-five series of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Semifinals. Losing to Anadolu Efes in Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu Wednesday, his side fell behind 2-1.

“In such a crucial game with so many quality players, them shooting 32 free throws versus 12 for us raises question marks,” Itoudis added before focusing on game footage and questionable calls via the laptop placed on the table.

Coach Itoudis using a laptop on the postgame-show to present the calls that he considers wrong in Game 3 of the #BSL semifinalspic.twitter.com/Xfcbelduu0

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 7, 2023

“It was a massacre for our team,” he mentioned.

“I did not want to come here and talk about the referees,” Itoudis concluded moving away from complaints about the referees, “Thank you for your time. I hope you don’t misunderstand what I am doing. Congratulations to Efes. They have a great team and a great coach, but we also play basketball.”

“This game was handed to our opponent”

Following up, Fener released an official statement relaying protests. “The result was not decided by coaching tactics nor the effort of both teams on the court,” the team underlined, “This game was handed to our opponent Efes by the three referees appointed by the Turkish Basketball Federation.”

“We urgently await an explanation for the decisions made by the referees, the source of their motivation, and the disgrace from the Turkish Basketball Federation,” was the attached demand.

“Sorry, I don’t have a laptop”

In response to Itoudis, Efes play-caller Ergin Ataman also challenged some calls. “Sorry, I don’t have a laptop. I came unprepared,” he commented on the preceding use of video footage by Itoudis, “The referees made mistakes against both teams.”

Game 4 will be held at the same venue Friday. Fener possibly recovering the homecourt advantage would force a do-or-die Game 5 in Ulker Sports Arena. The advancing side will face Turk Telekom or Pinar Karsiyaka in the championship best-of-five series.

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Reacting to Anadolu Efes rallying past Fenerbahce Beko in Game 3 of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Semifinals, Ergin Ataman stressed his side’s determination and the opponents’ fatigue as the key parts for the win.

“It was a great battle. Congratulations to both teams. These are the Playoffs. Every game is contested with such excitement and effort,” he noted in the postgame press conference, “Playing basketball is not enough, it is necessary to also fight very well, to put in the extra effort.”

From losing Game 1 to a 2-1 lead with the best-of-five series staying in Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu and the chance to advance to the Finals with a third straight win against the crosstown rival.

“We have another game Friday evening. It will be the same. Tonight, down the stretch, our fans helped us very much. I congratulate them too,” said Ataman, “This series will continue the same way, it is obvious. Fighting, not quitting.”

“Many do not believe in us, but we do. We believed until the end. Hopefully, we will be successful,” he added.

“Fenerbahce was tired”

Ataman, 57, is set to become the next head coach of Panathinaikos ahead of the 2023-24 season. However, finishing the successful spell at Efes with a domestic league championship is the remaining goal, after capturing the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in 2021 and 2022, and winning the BSL championship in 2019 and 2021.

“In the end, there was no tension on our side. Everyone always thinks ‘Ergin Ataman is creating tension’. But I did not do anything and the atmosphere was tense again. Let’s see who messed up this time, and who will be sanctioned. I was fined after Game 1,” he mentioned on members of both Istanbul outfits heating up down the stretch.

“In the last part of the game, we also took advantage of Fenerbahce’s fatigue,” explained the Turkish play-caller, “[Scottie] Wilbekin was great for them today. We struggled to contain him in the first half. Then he got tired and we aimed him in the offense. [Vasilije] Micic, [Will] Clyburn, Elijah Bryant, they all did a great job.”

“We managed to turn the series with Fenerbahce being tired,” he said in conclusion, “It was not easy. We were seven points behind with six minutes to go. Fenerbahce had the momentum, but we came back at the point. This proves we will not give up in the series.”

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Storming back from a double-digit deficit, Anadolu Efes topped Fenerbahce Beko, 97-91, Wednesday.

Vasilije Micic put in 12 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 pushing Ergin Ataman’s side to a 2-1 in the Semifinals best-of-five series of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Playoffs. Besides making 8/12 field goals, including 3/3 three-pointers, the Serbian guard added six assists and three rebounds over 34 minutes.

Trailing by 11 points in the third quarter, the hosts completed the comeback with an 11-0 run midway in the fourth quarter. Following Melih Mahmutoglu’s fourth triple, Micic broke the last tie with 1:23 on the clock. “Fighting until the end was very important for us. Fenerbahce did not give up,” the top performer commented on the exciting contest.

Elijah Bryant chipped in 21 points and Will Clyburn had 20 points. Tibor Pleiss combined 17 points with a game-high nine rebounds.

Despite connecting 16/29 from beyond the arc, the visitors fell short at Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu. Scottie Wilbekin registered a game-high 23 points and Nigel Hayes-Davis followed with 21 points in the losing effort.

Immediately after the game, head coach Dimitris Itoudis used a laptop to present game footage and argue questionable calls made by the referees.

Adding to complaints, Fener followed with a press release. “The result was not decided by coaching tactics nor the effort of both teams on the court,” reads the announcement, “This game was handed to our opponent Efes by the three referees appointed by the Turkish Basketball Federation.”

Houston Rockets center, 2021 BSL MVP Alperen Sengun was in attendance.

Closing the deal at home?

Between injuries and squad restrictions, Rodrigue Beaubois, Chris Singleton, Ante Zizic, and Bryant Dunston were the players left out by Efes in Game 3. On the opposite end, Metecan Birsen, Sehmus Hazer, Carsen Edwards, Nemanja Bjelica, Tonye Jekiri, Tyler Dorsey, Devin Booker, and Kostas Antetokounmpo did not dress for the team coached by Itoudis.

Game 4, at the same venue, Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu, attached to a clinching opportunity for Ataman and his players, will be held on Friday. Game 5, if necessary, would set the Istanbul rivals in Ulker Sports Arena for a deciding contest.

On the other side of the bracket and battling for a spot in the Finals, top-seeded Turk Telekom and fourth-seeded Pinar Karsiyaka are tied 1-1. The series switches to Izmir’s Mustafa Kemal Spor Salonu with Game 3 Thursday and Game 4 Saturday.

Photo Credit: Anadolu Efes SK Twitter

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