Besiktas wins against Efes, takes 1-0 lead in the Final

ISTANBUL- First game of the TBL finals between Anadolu Efes and Besiktas Milangaz was played yesterday. Besiktas won the game 75-82 at the Sinan Erdem Arena and took the 1-0 lead in the series.

Besiktas took control in the game from the first minutes. And never gave the momentum to Anadolu Efes. Besiktas scored 17 points from the free throw line. Anadolu Efes got only 6 points from the line. Anadolu Efes found some points from the 3 points line but they didn't stop Besiktas defensively...

Pops Mensah-Bonsu played very well against Efes. He scored 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Carlos Arroyo didn't started the game as we expected. But he return the game in the third quarter finishing with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. 

For Anadolu Efes Kerem Tunceri scored 15 points and dishes 7 assists. Also Oliver Lafayette scored 10 points and dishes 9 assists.

In the regular season, Besiktas finished season was No. 4. But Besiktas eliminated last year champ Fenerbahce and regular season champ Galatasaray in the Quarter-Finals and Semi's.

Here is the quotes from the press conferences;

Ilias Zouros: First of all, I want to congratulate Besiktas for the win. They deserved that win. We played bad, especially at the defense. But that is only the first game of the series. We got time to fight. This game is finished. We are thinking about next game now.

Besiktas had six days to rest. We didn't have time to rest. Maybe that's not reason but I think that's a advantage for Besiktas.

Ergin Ataman: We took control in the game from the first minutes and we didn't gave the control of the game to Efes. We did great defense. We need to win 3 more game for the championship. Our supporters didn't leave us alone. I want to thank you all Besiktas fans for today. Series didn't finished. For my team, we known that. We are gonna fight all the games. 

Top Performances - Efes: Stanko Barac 11 points-3 rebounds, Oliver Lafayette 10 points-2 rebounds-9 assists, Kerem Tunceri 15 points-1 rebounds-7 assists, Kerem Gonlum  9 points-3 rebounds. 

Top Performances - BJK: Zoran Erceg 15 points-6 rebounds, Serhat Cetin 7 points-3 rebounds-2 assists, Carlos Arroyo 15 points-4 rebounds-6 assists, David Hawkins 13 points-3 rebounds-2 assists, Pops Mensah-Bonsu 18 points-7 rebounds, Ersin Dagli 10 points-8 rebounds.

Next game on Thursday, at 7 PM.