Turkish TBL tips off
While Turkish TBL and Euroleague heavyweight Fenerbahce was competing a glamour game against the San Antonio Spurs, most of the other teams in Turkey were tipping off the start of the 2014/2015 TBL season. Five games took place around the country on Saturday, including a victory for last season’s runners up Galatasaray, with the remaining contests taking place on Sunday and Tuesday.
Tofas Bursa vs. Edirne Eskisehir Basket, 88-79
Eskisehir looked good throughout the first quarter, taking 0-5, 11-16, and 16-24 leads through the frame, eventually ending the ten minutes with a 20-24 advantage. The visitors improved again in the second frame and extended their lead through the period until they looked in control at halftime with the score at 32-46. Tofas finally played themselves into the game by controlling the third stanza to win the stint 22-12, cutting the deficit to 54-58 after 30 minutes. The hosts completed the comeback with a massive 34-21 run in the final quarter.
Trabzonspor vs. Torku Konyaspor, 70-76
Torku Konyaspor picked up a road win to get their Turkish TBL campaign off to a good start. It was Trabzonspor who started the game in better shape though, with the hosts posting an 18-11 first quarter built on confident defending. The lead was extended through the second quarter thanks to a 19-15 run that gave Trabzonspor a 37-26 lead at the long break. In the third quarter the visitors hit back and turned the game around, winning the frame 15-27 to snatch the lead at the final split (52-53). The one point gap heading into the fourth quarter made it a tense closing 10 minutes, but Konyaspor held on to take the win.
Darussafaka Istanbul vs. Besiktas, 74-71
A close game between Darussafaka and Besiktas saw the home team win the game by three points. The teams traded buckets through the first period as the game shaped to being a tight contest, although after 10 minutes Besiktas opened a slender 16-17 lead. The blow for blow Basketball continued in the second quarter and this time the teams could not be separated with the quarter ending 17-17 (33-34 at halftime). While no team took control in the third quarter, the visitors extended their one point advantage to four points by winning Q3 19-22 for a score of 52-56 heading into the fourth. With the game slipping away Darussafaka found an extra gear and put together a big fourth quarter to come back and win the game.
Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi vs. TED Kolejliler Ankara, 70-71
The closest game during the first day of the Turkish TBL season saw TED Ankara sneak away from Istanbul with a narrow victory. The early exchanges saw the hosts outpacing Ankara to open a solid lead after 10 minutes, winning 22-17. The game was closer in the second frame as Ankara found consistency at both ends, winning the period 17-18 for a halftime score of 39-35. The visitors ascended further in the third stanza and won the quarter 14-19 to leave the scoreboard on 53-54 after 30 minutes. A tense final quarter saw no team yield, tying the period 17 apiece, but Ankara held on to its one point lead to win the game.
Galatasaray vs. Usak Sportif, 94-85
Galatasaray will be hoping to be in title contention again this season while also competing in the Euroleague for the second consecutive season. The club got off to a great start in this game and opened a significant lead through the first quarter, leading 26-14 at the opening buzzer. It was a lead that would prove all-important through the game as the teams locked the second quarter 21-21 before Usak won the third 21-24. The score was 68-59 after thirty minutes and another tied 26-26 quarter handed Galatasaray a victory.