The Bahçeşehir basketball team is just one win away from the Eurocup finals after their victory over Gran Canaria with a score of 74:66 in the first semi-final match last night in Istanbul.

Beginning in the middle of the first quarter, the home team surged ahead with a 13:0 run and maintained their lead until the final whistle. Bahçeşehir showed remarkable strength in rebounding, tallying an impressive 20 offensive rebounds.

Marko Simonović put on a stellar performance once again at the “Sinan Erdem Dom,” reminiscent of his strong showing in the quarter-finals against Cedevita-Olimpija. The Montenegrin national team player concluded the game with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and an index rating of 29.

In the crucial final quarter, Simonović scored 10 of his team’s 12 points.

“We protected our home court. We played well, particularly in the first half. Although we had a slight drop at the end of the third quarter, we ultimately secured the win, which is what matters most. We need to remain focused and rest as much as possible because the next game is on Friday. Our goal is to win the second match and wrap up the series,” stated Simonović.

The Turkish team displayed solid defense, only allowing 66 points.

“The most important thing was performing well enough to win. The opening games of a series have their unique challenges. Our defense was generally solid, aside from the initial minutes, which was pivotal for our victory. Offensively, we had two distinct halves—great teamwork with 15 assists in the first half. Now, we lead 1:0 and must prepare for the next game. Thanks to our fans for their incredible support,” commented the team’s coach, Dejan Radonjić, after the match.

Simonović received further acclaim for his performance.

“This victory belongs to the whole team. While Simonović did well, others also contributed significantly. We will analyze this match and prepare for a strong performance in the away game to come,” Radonjić added.

The series is a best-of-three, with the second game hosted by Gran Canaria scheduled for Friday (21).

In the other semi-final, Valencia triumphed over Hapoel Tel Aviv (91:82), taking a 1:0 lead in their series.

News