Fenerbahçe outplayed by defending champions Olympiacos

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Bo McCalleb and Bojan Bogdanovic's strong performances with 20 points each weren't enough for Fenerbahçe against the defending champions. AFP photo

Fenerbahçe Ülker suffered a 71-82 defeat by Olympiacos in Athens in the Euroleague top 16. The Istanbul side, which had entered the competition hunting one of the top spots in group F, was outplayed by the defending champions, especially during the second and third quarter. The gap increased to as much as 21 with five minutes remaining, but Fenerbahçe players reduced it in the last plays of the game.

Vassili Spanoulis scored 15 points and Georgios Printezis added 13 points to secure a crucial victory for their side. Olympiacos, which has now a record of three wins and three losses in the group, has revived its chances to defend its title. Bo McCalleb and Bojan Bogdanovic's strong performances, each ending the game with 20 points, and David Anderson's 18 points were not enough for Fenerbahçe. The Turkish side is at the bottom of the group with a single win in six games, behind only their city rivals Beşiktaş.

Meanwhile Beşiktaş couldn't stop its losing streak record, after another heavy home court defeat in Top 16 group F, this time at the hands of Maccabi Electra. The Israeli powerhouse started with a 10-4 lead in the fourth minute and dominated the whole match to obtain a 55-77 victory in Istanbul. The Tel Aviv squad secured their comfortable win after an 18-0 streak in the beginning of the second quarter and kept their rivals at bay during the rest of the game.

Lior Eliyahu led his squad with 14 points to raise Maccabi to 2-4 in the group and keep their chances for the Final Four alive. Nik Caner-Medley added 12 points, while David Logan scored 10 points.
Serhat Çetin's 13 points were not enough for the Istanbul side’s first win in the Top 16. Patrick Christopher had 12 points and Gasper Vidmar added 11 points for Beşiktaş.

It will be an all-Turkish clash in group F as Beşiktaş will visit Fenerbahçe Ülker's court Jan. 15. The two Istanbul clubs will try to turn the tables and gain momentum at the expense of their rivals.