FIBA Basketball
TUR - Efes clinch cup glory
ISTANBUL (Turkish Cup) - Efes Pilsen captured more silverware at the weekend with a a 74-68 triumph over Istabul rivals Ulker in the Turkish Cup. Efes had lost their two league games against Ulker this season but when it truly matter, they gained revenge.Efes Pilsen coach Oktay Mahmuti said: "We won the cup in a very difficult time
ISTANBUL (Turkish Cup) - Efes Pilsen captured more silverware at the weekend with a a 74-68 triumph over Istabul rivals Ulker in the Turkish Cup.
Efes had lost their two league games against Ulker this season but when it truly matter, they gained revenge.
Efes Pilsen coach Oktay Mahmuti said: "We won the cup in a very difficult time. We've had very hard times recently.
"We've had injury problems.
"We played our own game, we fought very well. I believe we earned the cup."
The defending Turkish champions had not won the Turksih Cup since 2002.
"We won this cup, but the league will be more difficult," Mahmuti said. "All the games in the league are very difficult now. We want to win the league championship as well."
Efes guard Antonio Granger was named the game's MVP after guiding his side to victory in the final quarter. Granger finished with a game-high 19 points and five rebounds.
Marko Popovic was next best for Efes with 16 points and helped them get off to a good start, with Efes leading 19-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Efes then led 43-35 at the halfway stage but Robert Gulyas, Ulker's Hungarian center and their top scorer with 18 points, and Oguz Savas led the Ulker fightback as they tied the game at 55-55 early in the fourth.
However, Granger was on fire in the final quarter and helped Efes establish a lead they did not let go, despite another determined effort from Ulker and Gulyas.
Mirsad Turkcan scored 15 points and Cuneyt Erden 14 in a losing cause, while Nikola Prkacin added 11 for Efes.
Murat Özyer, the Ulker coach, said: "I congratulate our opponents for winning the cup.
"We couldn't respond to Efes Pilsen's hard game in the beginning with our attacking game and the score went their way.
"We closed the gap with our extra effort, but if you let a club like Efes Pilsen which is a contender both in Turkey and in Europe to open up such a big lead in the beginning, then your legs wouldn't be enough to close the gap at the end.
"However, we saw that we can beat Efes Pilsen. I congratulate them for winning the Turkish Cup. Our goal is to win the league, now."
By PA Sport, Exclusively For FIBA
Efes had lost their two league games against Ulker this season but when it truly matter, they gained revenge.
Efes Pilsen coach Oktay Mahmuti said: "We won the cup in a very difficult time. We've had very hard times recently.
"We've had injury problems.
"We played our own game, we fought very well. I believe we earned the cup."
The defending Turkish champions had not won the Turksih Cup since 2002.
"We won this cup, but the league will be more difficult," Mahmuti said. "All the games in the league are very difficult now. We want to win the league championship as well."
Efes guard Antonio Granger was named the game's MVP after guiding his side to victory in the final quarter. Granger finished with a game-high 19 points and five rebounds.
Marko Popovic was next best for Efes with 16 points and helped them get off to a good start, with Efes leading 19-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Efes then led 43-35 at the halfway stage but Robert Gulyas, Ulker's Hungarian center and their top scorer with 18 points, and Oguz Savas led the Ulker fightback as they tied the game at 55-55 early in the fourth.
However, Granger was on fire in the final quarter and helped Efes establish a lead they did not let go, despite another determined effort from Ulker and Gulyas.
Mirsad Turkcan scored 15 points and Cuneyt Erden 14 in a losing cause, while Nikola Prkacin added 11 for Efes.
Murat Özyer, the Ulker coach, said: "I congratulate our opponents for winning the cup.
"We couldn't respond to Efes Pilsen's hard game in the beginning with our attacking game and the score went their way.
"We closed the gap with our extra effort, but if you let a club like Efes Pilsen which is a contender both in Turkey and in Europe to open up such a big lead in the beginning, then your legs wouldn't be enough to close the gap at the end.
"However, we saw that we can beat Efes Pilsen. I congratulate them for winning the Turkish Cup. Our goal is to win the league, now."
By PA Sport, Exclusively For FIBA