Fenerbahçe Beko won against As Monaco in the first game of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Play-Off series with a score of 95-91 in overtime, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Fenerbahçe Beko faced AS Monaco away in the first game of the EuroLeague Play-Off series. The regular duration of the game, held at Salle Gaston Medecin and marked by intense competition, ended in a draw of 81-81. In overtime, the Yellow-Blues managed to dominate their opponent and win 95-91, concluding the series 1-0. Following this result, Fenerbahçe took the lead and moved one step closer to their goal of making a name for themselves in the Final Four with three wins.
„The expected contribution from long-standing players was lacking.“ In the game between Fenerbahçe and Monaco, the Yellow-Blue team did not receive the expected contribution from the tall players. In a match where Johnathan Motley did not play due to injury and Sertaç Ulu got into foul trouble early and could only play for 6 minutes and 53 seconds, Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, unable to achieve the desired efficiency from another center, Georgios Papagiannis, analyzed the starting lineup with Nigel Hayes-Davis at number 4 and Nate Sestina at number 5. The Yellow-Blue team earned the series lead, winning the game due to the responsibility of its small players in crucial moments.
„Nate Sestina, the X-factor.“ Nate Sestina, who joined Fenerbahçe Beko at the beginning of the season, particularly struggled to make the desired contribution to the roster in the EuroLeague. Sestina, who tried to perform in limited minutes during the Itoudis era, started to reach the desired level after the arrival of Sarunas Jasikevicius. Notable for his performances in the EuroLeague wins against Baskonia and Partizan, Sestina received full marks for his performance in the Monaco game yesterday. The American player, subbed in and played for 31 minutes and 13 seconds, scored 16 points with 4/5 three-pointers, becoming the second-highest scorer in the group. Breaking the EuroLeague career scoring record in the game, Sestina achieved 16 efficiency points along with 6 rebounds and 1 steal.
„Hayes-Davis steps up in critical moments again.“ Nigel Hayes-Davis, Fenerbahçe’s top scorer in the EuroLeague and experiencing one of the best phases of his career this season, contributed to the victory by taking responsibility in crucial moments against Monaco. The experienced player had a weak performance in the first three quarters, scoring only 7 points, but played a crucial role in Fenerbahçe’s comeback by scoring 7 points in the final quarter. Hayes-Davis, who scored five critical points in a row during overtime, became one of the two top scorers of the game with 19 points.
„Wilbekin’s condition is unclear.“ The condition of Scottie Wilbekin, who was injured and had to go to the locker room in the third quarter of Fenerbahçe Beko’s game against As Monaco, remains unclear. The veteran player’s condition will be determined after detailed examinations conducted today before the second game.
„The second game is tomorrow.“ The second game of the As Monaco – Fenerbahçe matchup will take place tomorrow. The game, held at Salle Gaston Medecin, will start at 8:00 PM GMT. If Fenerbahçe wins this game, they would lead the series 2-0. If Monaco wins, the series will be tied at 1-1. The third game of the series will be played on Wednesday, May 1, at 8:45 PM at the Ülker Sports and Activities Hall, and if necessary, the fourth game will also take place simultaneously on Wednesday, May 3, at the Ülker Sports and Activities Hall. In case of a 2-2 tie, the fifth and final game will be played at Monaco’s home venue.
