Fenerbahçe Ülker, the runner-up in the men’s Turkish Basketball League (TBL) last season, faltered in the Euroleague group four match against unbeaten Italian leader Montepaschi Sienna on Nov. 11 and was beaten 87-83 in front of its home fans at İstanbul’s Abdi İpekçi Sports Arena.Fener Ülker dropped to 2-2 after that defeat and therefore has to beat Lithuanian side Zalgiris in game five on the road this evening to boost its chances of making the next round in the competition. Fener lost the match against Montepaschi Sienna, but not without a fight. Tarence Kisney banged in 20 points for Fener, Lynn Greer added 17, Oğuz Savaş 14 and Emir Preldzic 10. Fener coach Bogdan Tanjevic will be counting on these sharpshooters to deliver the goods again today.
Zalgiris is not in the best of moods after being beaten 64-52 on the road by Cibona Zagreb the Wednesday before last, a defeat which meant the Lithuanians dropped to 1-3. Zalgiris is therefore desperate for victory today to stay alive, and that could make Efes Pilsen’s job even more difficult.
Mirza Begic, who scored 14 points, and Travis Watson, who barely missed a double-double with 9 points and 12 rebounds, were outstanding for Zalgiris at Zagreb in game four. These are the players Efes has to keep a close eye on. In the other Group A game today Asvel Basket hosts Cibona Zagreb.
Elsewhere in the Euroleague today it is: Union Olimpija vs. Lottomaica Roma in Group C; BC Khimi vs. Asseco Prokom and Panathinaikos vs. EWE Baskets in Group D.
