In the second match of the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League play-off quarter-finals, Anadolu Efes defeated Türk Telekom 77-70 away, making the series 2-0 and advancing to the semi-finals.
Anadolu Efes will face the winner of the Fenerbahçe Beko-Safiport Erokspor series in the semi-finals.
While the match started with mutual points, Türk Telekom was ahead 9-7 in the first 5 minutes. After the episode where both teams lost the ball, Anadolu Efes took the lead 14-13 with Şehmus Hazer’s three-point field goal. Increasing its influence in the remaining part, Türk Telekom completed the first quarter with a 17-16 lead.
Starting the second period with PJ Dozier’s three-pointer, Anadolu Efes increased the difference to 4 (21-17). Turning its success in rebounds into offensive scores, Türk Telekom tied the game 4 minutes and 44 seconds before halftime: 24-24. Anadolu Efes took the lead in the last part of the game and entered the locker room ahead 37-31.
Starting the third quarter effectively, Anadolu Efes increased the difference to double digits (41-31) with the points it scored from the painted area. Despite the home team’s efforts to close the gap, Anadolu Efes maintained its superiority and went into the last 10 minutes with a 7-point advantage (61-54).
Türk Telekom, with the support of the fans in the last period, took the lead with an 11-0 series: 65-61. Anadolu Efes reduced the score to 2 points (67-65) with 4 minutes and 12 seconds left in the match. Responding to Smith and Simonovic’s points with Larkin and Beaubois, the guest team gained a 3-point advantage (73-70) in the last episode. Anadolu Efes, not giving its opponent a chance in the remaining minutes, won the match 77-70.
Anadolu Efes, which won the first match 86-75, also won the series 2-0 and made its way to the semi-finals.
