Fenerbahçe Beko 88–82 Barça Lassa: Defeated in the final moments

Barça Lassa were unable to beat the Euroleague leader at the Ulker Sports and Event Hall despite leading the game until right near the end. Pesic was sent off after protesting a refereeing decision but that spurred on the Blaugrana, especially Jaka Blazic. The No.9 scored 12 points in 7 minutes to give Barça Lassa the widest difference in the first half (14-21, min 8).

A 10-3 partial led by Ali Muhammad (17 points in the first half) got the Turkish team back into the match (35-35, min.17), and along with Melli and Sloukas, the trio scored 27 out of 37 points. However, Blazic and Tomic's good work as well as some defensive intensity kept Barça Lassa ahead at the break (37-38, min 20).

A great third quarter

The visitors began the second half with a 12-0 partial (37-50 min. 24), with Singleton playing superbly in defence. Two consecutive triples from Ribas kept the visitors ticking over nicely, and Kuric's basket in the last second of the quarter saw the score board move to 52-61 for the final period.

Sloukas, decisive

The fourth period belonged to Kostas Sloukas. A magnificent 3 + 1 from Kuric put Barça Lassa six up again (66-72), but Sloukas was unstoppable, allowing Fenerbahçe to take the lead with less than two minutes to play (79-77, min 39). A triple from Melih, the captain, took the advantage to 84-78 and, in the last moments, an exchange of baskets meant the final score was 88-82 in favour of the hosts.

Match Details

Fenerbahçe, 88
Barça, 82

Fenerbahçe Beko: Green (-), Ali Muhammed (19), Melli (13), Kalinic (4), Ahmet (2) –starters- Melih (8), Sloukas (22), Guduric (5), Vesely (4), Datome (11).

Barça Lassa: Heurtel (7), Ribas (9), Blazic (15), Oriola (2) and Tomic (12) –starters- Seráphin (2), Pangos (2), Singleton (12), Kuric (11), Claver (10).

Breakdown: 16-23 / 37-38 / 52-61 / 88-82

Officials: Luigi Lamonica, Sreten Radovic and Gytis Vilius. Svetislav Pesic was sent off, Jan Vesely and Marko Guduric (Fenerbaçe Beko) left the court for accumulation of personal fouls.