ANKARA
Turkey's Fenerbahce Ulker lost to Spanish giants Real Madrid 96-87 in Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four semi finals game at Barclaycard Center in Madrid on Friday.
The score set up a Real Madrid-Olympiacos final on May 17.
Fenerbahce Ulker played strongly against the hosts in the first quarter and took the lead 21-20.
In the second, Real Madrid increased the gap to double digits six minutes to the buzzer. Mexican power forward Gustavo Ayon shone as the Madrid side kept increasing the margin.
Real Madrid were enjoying the match near the end of the second quarter. The Spanish team were deadly behind the three point line, scoring eight three-pointers until the half time, a number Fenerbahce Ulker fatefully matched in turnovers.
Real Madrid were in a comfortable 20-point lead after second quarter: 55-35. In the third, the Spanish team managed to keep their rhythm, taking the score to 76-59.
Fenerbahce Ulker began to put up more resistance near the end of the game and closed the gap to 10 two minutes to go, but Real Madrid hung on to win the game by nine points: 96-87.
Fenerbahce Ulker's Czech forward Jan Vesely scored 20 points as U.S. guard Andrew Goudelock tallied 26 points for his team against Real Madrid. Serbian forward Nemanja Bjelica and his fellow citizen Bogdan Bogdanovic reached double-digits in points.
Real Madrid's Ayon was red-hot with 18 points, and grabbed seven rebounds. U.S. shooting guard K. C. Rivers was also one of the key factors for the win as he tallied 17 points. The other ace of Real Madrid, Sergio Rodriguez, completed the game with 13 points. Spanish star forward Rudy Fernandez, Argentine forward Andres Nocioni and Spanish point guard Sergio Llull scored 12 points each.
Real Madrid will face Olympiacos in the final on May 17 starting at 20.00 CET (1800 GMT). Meanwhile CSKA Moscow will meet Fenerbahce Ulker in the third-place playoff. The consolation game will begin at 17.00 CET (1500 GMT).
