Fenerbahce 91-95: Break in extra time after a sensational match

A great battle took place in Monte Carlo on Wednesday night (24/4), in a series that everyone expected to be highly competitive and it showed early on that it will bring heart-pounders. Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team got through the break, winning 95-91 in overtime (81-81 ff), despite going into Game 1 without Jonathan Motley and seeing Scotty Wilbekin leave with an injury in the third quarter.

Nigel Hayes-Davies, Nick Calathes and Tyler Dorsey had a starring role, while Nate Sestina proved to be the X-Factor for the visitors.

The race

Monaco looked like a well-tuned machine in the first part of the match, having a plurality in attack (8 of the 9 players used scored) and punishing every misstep by Fenerbahce.

It is indicative that the hosts got 14 points from the 6 mistakes the guests committed in the twenty minute, which allowed them to go to the locker room at +9 (46-37, 20′).

The story changed after the break. Sarunas Jasikevicius played small-ball with Nate Sestina in the “5” – in the absence of Jonathan Motley – and managed to short-circuit Monaco. Fenerbahçe went on a 23-15 run in the third period, capped by a buzzer-beater 3-pointer by Nick Calathes, and came within striking distance (61-60, 30′), despite having seen Scotty Wilbekin fouled earlier.

Finding solutions from their peripheral line, Saša Obradović’s team managed to pull away again (72-63, 34′). The visitors did not lay down their weapons and after two big three-pointers by Tyler Dorsey they got closer to the point again (74-73) with 3’11” on the clock.

Jordan Lloyd made a basket and Marko Gudurich made two shots for 76-75. Nick Calathes was fouled by John Brown but missed the shots. Nate Sestina secured another possession and Calathes scored to make it 76-77 at 38′. A Nigel Hayes-Davis foul shot made it 76-80 with 90″ to go. In cold blood, Jarome Blossomgame cut it to 79-80, while Alpha Diallo drew a foul from Nate Sestina to make it 81-80 at 39’15”.

Calathes drew a foul from Mike James and 1/2 shots tied the game with 32″ on the clock. James took on Monaco’s offense, but made a poor pick on defense and missed. Jasikevicius called a time-out and handed the responsibility of the last ball to Marko Guduric, however, the Serb did not do him justice, after gnawing time, but failed to score on the drive, with the match going to extra time.

However, the momentum was on the side of the Turks, who did not let the opportunity go unexploited in the extra five minutes and made the break.

THE REFEREES: Perez, Pastusiak, Soukis

THE DECADES: 26-15, 46-37, 61-60, 81-81 (q.a.), 91-95 (par.)

MONACO (Obradovic): Okobo 19 (2/8 three-pointers), Lloyd 16 (2/4 three-pointers), Blossomgame 8 (9 rebounds), Brown 8, Diallo 10, Corneli, Jaite, Walker, Motiejunas 12 (2/4 three-pointers), Streisel 2, Hall, James 16 (1/6 3-pointers, 4 assists, 3 steals).

FENERBACHT (Jasikevicius): Wilbekin 7 (1/2 3-pointers), Sanli 6, Papagiannis 4, Hayes-Davis 19 (2/5 3-pointers, 7 rebounds), Biberovic 2, Noah, Pierre, Gudurich 11 (2/4 3-pointers), Kalathis 17 (2/4 3-pointers), Dorsey 13 (2/7 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, 5 assists), Madar, Sestina 16 (4/5 3-pointers, 6 rebounds).

Monaco’s team stats: 21/40 two points, 8/27 three points, 25/30 shots, 30 rebounds (11 offensive – 19 defensive), 17 assists, 5 steals, 6 turnovers, 3 blocks

Fenerbahce team stats: 16/31 two points, 14/30 three points, 21/29 shots, 41 rebounds (13 offensive – 28 defensive), 17 assists, 3 steals, 13 fouls

The program of the series

• Game 1: Monaco – Fenerbahce 91-95
• Game 2: Monaco – Fenerbahce (26/4, 20:00)
• Game 3: Fenerbahce – Monaco (1/5, 20:45)
• Game 4 (if necessary): Fenerbahce – Monaco (3/5, 20:45)
• Game 5 (if necessary): Monaco – Fenerbahce (TBD)