Turkey TBL: Fenerbahce Ulker Claims Solo Lead

Istanbul, Turkey – The last remaining game of Round 6 of regular season Turkish TBL action took place between the league’s top two teams. The 2014 defending champions, Fenerbahce Ulker maximized their home court advantage to down visiting Galatasaray Liv Hospital, 85-74. Fenerbahce Ulker is now 5-1 and has claimed the league’s solo top spot. Galatasaray is now 4-2 and is tied with four other teams who are all jockeying for position in the upper third of the standings.

Fenerbahce’s win could be attributed to both aggressiveness on their part in attacking the basket in the paint and Galatasaray’s defensive lapses by allowing their players so many uncontested shots. While both teams came out strong in the first period, the hosts only managed to carve out a three-point edge after the first 12 minutes of play (20-17). It was in the second period that Fenerbahce Ulker’s players went on their rampage in the shaded area. They blew away their guests 30-14 to head into the locker room with a commanding 50-31 advantage.

Carlos Arroyo and Zoran Erceg did their best to cut into the massive lead during the third quarter as Galatasaray outscored their hosts 16-22. In the final frame, however, Fenerbahce Ulker was prepared and they managed to hold off their Istanbul rivals to cruise to victory.

Nemanja Bjelica was very active for Fener Ulker, scoring 18 points for the night on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting from two-point range. He also knocked 2-of-3 three-pointers. Bogdan Bogdanovic chimed in with 13 points off the bench and Andrew Goudelock added 12 points.

Here are the complete results from the rest of the games played in Round 6:

Anadolu Efes vs. Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi, 71-64

Torku Selcuk Universitesi Konya vs. TED Kolejliler Ankara, 89-75

Banvit Basketbol Kulubu vs. Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul, 72-69

Royal Hali Gaziantep vs. Trabzonspor, 77-69

Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Tofas Bursa, 94-75

Eskisehir Basket vs. Usak Sportlif, 61-69

Besiktas Integral Forex Istanbul vs. Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir, 87-82 (OT)