Home Other Anadolu Efes clinches Playoff birth, one spot available, EuroLeague Thursday round up

Anadolu Efes clinches Playoff birth, one spot available, EuroLeague Thursday round up

Anadolu Efes survived a late run by Fenerbahce to overcome their Istanbul neighbours 80-77 to qualify for the EuroLeague Playoffs.

The win also means that there is one available spot left for the Playoffs, which is currently occupied by Crvena Zvezda. Darussafaka Dogus are the other team fighting for the final spot in the post-season.

For Anadolu Efes, they can breathe a sigh of relief having beaten a depleted Fenerbahce side, missing Kostas Sloukas and Luigi Datome.

Bryant Dunston paced the Efes attack with 14 points.

“First of all it is a great success for us to reach the Playoffs,” said a happy Efes coach Velimir Perasovic.

“I think for every team it is tough to classify for the playoffs because when you see teams like Barcelona, Milan or Maccabi out, it is a great success. Congratulation to my players, because they deserved this.”

Panathinaikos completed the season sweep of Baskonia as they led from tip to buzzer for a 72-63 victory in Vitoria.

The win improved Panathinaikos’s record to 17-11, which is the same as fourth-place Fenerbahce, but Fenerbahce has the tiebreak advantage over the Greek side. Baskonia dropped to seventh place as a result of the loss but their Playoff ticket has already been booked.

Chris Singleton was all over the place for the winners with 18 points and eight rebounds. Adam Hanga led Baskonia with 13 points.

“I am trying to get better every day,” Singleton said. “I have teammates who believe in me, I got coaches who believe in me. I just try to show everybody what I can do. I love playing.”

Two games were also played on Thursday with nothing but pride at stake. Zalgiris hammered Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv on the road 93-77 with  Edgaras Ulanovas leading the winners with 20 points.

And Brose Bamberg withstood a spirited comeback from EA7 Milano as coach Andrea Trinchieri and power forward Nicolo Melli made a winning return to the Italian city by securing an 84-76 triumph.

 

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