Basketball: F.bahce to meet A.Efes in playoff finals

ISTANBUL

Istanbul basketball giants Fenerbahce claimed the ticket for the Turkish Spor Toto Basketball League playoff finals by eliminating archrivals Galatasaray Odeabank in the semi-final series late Tuesday.

Fenerbahce won the fourth match of the series against Galatasaray Odeabank 82-75 and won the series 3-1, thus advancing to the finals.

The fourth match of the series was played in Galatasaray Odeabank's home court without spectators since the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) Discipline Committee sanctioned Galatasaray Odeabank to play their two home matches behind closed doors due to the fans' violent behavior during the previous game.

The match’s top scorer was Fenerbahce point guard Bobby Dixon, also known as Ali Muhammed. The U.S.-born Turkish player scored 18 points. His teammate Melih Mahmutoglu played an important role for the triumph, as he poured in 16 points.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray Odeabank guards Errick McCollum and Sinan Guler and center Stephane Lasme scored 15 points each, but their efforts were not enough to tie the series against Fenerbahce. Thus Galatasaray Odeabank were eliminated.

The victorious side of the semis, Fenerbahce, will play against the other Istanbul basketball heavyweights, Anadolu Efes, in the finals phase.