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Fener Ülker aims for second straight win as it hosts Cibona today
Having tasted victory, Fenerbahçe Ülker is itching for more as it faces Croatian side Cibona Zagreb in game three at İstanbul’s Abdi İpekçi Sports Arena this evening. Fener Ülker played with exhilarating confidence against Asvel last Wednesday and also against poor Banvit in the domestic Turkish Basketball League on Saturday, winning 81-63.
Upbeat Fener, its confidence sky high after regaining the winning touch, undoubtedly will be all out to add Cibona to its casualty list this evening. And there is no reason the İstanbul side cannot accomplish this feat if Tarence Kinsey, who banged in a career-high 21 points against Asvel last Wednesday; Ömer Aşık, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds; Emir Preldzic, who scored 11; and Ömer Onan, who netted 10, can deliver the goods today.
Staying the course
Bogdan Tanjevic, the Fenerbahçe Ülker head coach, has said the home rout by Royal FC Barcelona in their Euroleague group opener was a one-off event and now that they have rediscovered the art of winning, they are ready to stay the course.
“We have to go out there and do what has to be done and make our fans happy,” the head coach said this week. “This [Cibona] match is one we must win. We are playing well and winning and so the winning must continue,” he stated philosophically.
But first things first! Fenerbahçe Ülker must first of all deal with the Croats this evening and boost its chances of making the Top 16 before thinking about whether it can stay the course or not.
Winless Cibona, crushed 81-59 on the road by Barcelona last Thursday, has a 0-2 record and is therefore not expected to give the rampaging Fener Ülker a hard time. Basketball is no meritocracy; this we have said before and are saying once again. Fenerbahçe Ülker cannot afford to rest on its laurels because no game is won before it is actually played.
Simply put, the Turkish side should not count its chickens before they hatch. Marko Tomas, who scored 16 points against Barcelona, and Jamont Gordon, who netted 12, are capable of causing trouble and must be kept under close control.
Elsewhere in the Euroleague today, Asvel Basket hosts Montepaschi of Italy in Group A, Olympiakos plays Lietuvos Rytas of Lithuania in Group B, Maroussi Athens B.C. faces Lottomatica Roma in Group C, while BC Khimki Moscow is paired with EWE Baskets of Germany and Asseco Prokom of Poland goes up against AJ Milano in Group D.
Live on Spormax
20:15: Fenerbahçe Ülker-Cibona
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