In the quarter-finals of the Basketball Men’s ING Turkish Cup, Anadolu Efes defeated Manisa Büyükşehir Belediyespor 94-85 and became the first team to make its name in the Final Four.
Manisa Büyükşehir Belediyespor started the match quickly and was effective both in the painted area and behind the three-point line. The guest team increased the difference to double digits with the points scored by Terry from a basket and foul in the 6th minute: 19-7. The first quarter ended with Manisa Büyükşehir Belediyespor leading 27-18.
Starting the second quarter of the match effectively, Anadolu Efes did not allow its opponent to set up a game, especially with Rıdvan Öncel’s tough defense. The dark blue-whites, who allowed only 2 points in their own basket in the first 3 minutes, were effective with Thompson in attack and balanced the score in the 14th minute: 29-29. Anadolu Efes, which increased its series to 13-0 in the said section with Larkin, Clyburn and Rıdvan Öncel, took a 34-29 lead in the 15th minute and closed the first half with a 51-47 advantage.
Entering the second half with Clyburn’s effective play, Anadolu Efes increased the difference to double digits in the 25th minute: 64-54. Although the guest team, scoring with Cruz, Roberson and Terry in the remaining part, narrowed the gap down to 4 points, the dark blue-whites entered the final period with a 72-68 advantage.
In the last quarter, which started with mutual baskets, Anadolu Efes responded to Cruz’s baskets with Larkin and Clyburn, and was ahead 85-78 at the 35th minute. The dark blue-whites, who did not allow their opponent to close the gap in the remaining part, won 94-85 on the court.
The excitement of the Final Four, which will be held at the Karatay Sports and Congress Center in Konya, will be experienced between 16-18 February.