The result meant Efes extended its unbeaten run to 15 games and exacted sweet revenge on Telekom, the team that beat the Turkish champ during the first half of the season. For Türk Telekom, the result meant an abrupt end to a five-game winning streak.Efes, fresh from its resounding 88-78 triumph over Italian outfit Montepaschi Siena in the Euroleague Top 16 on Wednesday, took the game to the team sponsored by communication giant Türk Telekom from the very beginning -- leading 17-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Efes showed signs of match-weariness in the second, but nevertheless led by the slightest of margins, 36-35. The Turkish champ upped the tempo in the third for a 59-52 lead, before easily wrapping up the game 80-72 in the fourth and final quarter.
Efes Serbian point guard Igor Rakocevic, dubbed “The White Michael Jordan,” was the overall top scorer with 20 points. Thirty-year-old Turkish guard Tutku Açık led Türk Telekom with 17 points.
In other TBL games, it was: Erdemirspor 76, Galatasaray Cafe Crown 74; Bornova Belediye 82, Darüşşafaka Cooper Tires 77; Kepez Belediye 55, Pınar Karşıyaka 71; and OYAK Renault 58, TOFAŞ 76.
