Fenerbahçe Ülker maintains unbeaten record in Euroleague with win over Partizan

ISTANBUL

Emir Preldzic (L) and Bojan Bogdanovic of Fenerbahce Ülker celebrate their victory. AFP photo

Fenerbahçe Ülker maintained its 100 percent success rate in Euroleague Group A with a 78-88 victory in Belgrade over Partizan Nov. 9. Coach Zeljko Obradovic’s men came back from an 8-point deficit in the break to inflict a first home defeat on the team where he spent almost his entire career as a player.
 
The Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic proved once again decisive with 26 points. The U.S. playmaker Bo McCalebb scored for the Yellow Canaries, Nemanja Bjelica netted 12 and Emir Preldzic added 11, dishing out 8 assists.
 
Joffrey Lauvergne’s 20 points and former Fenerbahçe Ülker player Terence Kinsey’s 18 points were not enough for Partizan which dropped to a 1-3 record.
 
The Istanbul side is leading the group with four victories in as many games, keeping at bay last year’s semi-finalist Barcelona and CSKA Moscow which share a 2-2 record after the Catalans 79-70 win over the Russians on Nov. 9. Fenerbahçe’s next opponents, Nanterre, spoilt the party of the two giants with also a 2-2 record. The French newcomers confirmed their ambition for reaching the Top 16 stage with a convincing 80-61 home win over Budivelnik Kiev.
 
Galatasaray edges minnows
 
Meanwhile, Galatasaray Liv Hospital has signed its second win in this year’s Euroleague by edging newcomers Zielona Gora 78-75 in Poland. Leaded by Erwin Dudley, who scored a career-high 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Carlos Arroyo the Istanbul side was able to control its nerves in the last quarter as the hosts reduced the gap in the last quarter.
 
Pops Mensah-Bonsu added 15 points and 9 rebounds, Arroyo scored 11 with 6 assists and Jamont Gordon netted10 points. Przemyslaw Samojski and Walker Erwing scored 17 each in defeat.
 
With the victory Galatasaray improves to a 2-2 record in the Group C but remains fourth, level with Bayern Munich and Unicaja Malaga. The Germans, who obtained a surprising 82-68 over the Andalusians, confirmed their ambitions by sitting second after the title-holders Olympiakos. The Greeks, meanwhile, secured a routine 70-62 road victory over Montepaschi Siena. Galatasaray will host Bayen Munich in Istanbul next week.