Beşiktaş, Efes vie for first trophy of season

ISTANBUL

Last year’s triple cup winner Beşiktaş meets Anadolu Efes in the Presidential Cup of Turkey on Sept. 30.
Beşiktaş, who won its first Beko Turkish Basketball League (TBL) title in almost four decades, will try to open this season with a trophy as well.

The game at the Abdi İpekçi Arena is the equivalent of the Super Cup.

The Black Eagles have outlasted Anadolu Efes in a thrilling playoff finals series. They have also won the Turkish Cup and the EuroChallenge Cup to add to an unprecedented trophy treble in the club’s history.
Both teams have seen major changes in playing and coaching staffs after the finals.

Beşiktaş parted ways with Coach Ergin Ataman, who went to Galatasaray, and signed Erman Kunter. Anadolu Efes, on the other hand, signed former Galatasaray manager Oktay Mahmuti as head coach.
Efes’ biggest signing was former Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar and former Galatasaray player Jamon Gordon, while Beşiktaş purchased Montenegrin forward Vladimir Dasic and U.S. guard Curtis Jerrels.

The first final match of the new basketball season starts at 5 p.m.