Efes hopes to keep win streak against Zalgiris

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Anadolu Efes player Dusko Savanovic will try to help his team grab a victory against Zalgiris. AA photo

Anadolu Efes and Zalgiris Kaunas meet for the third time this season tonight, with Efes still looking for its first win against the Lithuanian champions.

Unlike their previous clashes, Efes comes into the present contest with positive momentum. Coach Oktay Mahmuti’s men have won three in a row and sit one win behind the co-leader in Group E.

On the other hand, Zalgiris has dropped three of four in the Top 16, including both its road games, and needs to gain traction to get back into the playoff hunt.

“After winning the last three games of the Top 16 we want to go on consecutively,” Efes coach Mahmuti was quoted as saying on euroleague.net. “As we are approaching the half of the Top 16, I believe that every team will try its best to stay alive.”

A victory against Zalgiris is in the team’s sights, Mahmuti said.

“We lost the two games against Zalgiris Kaunas in the regular season but this time we want to win and we want to strengthen our position in our group,” he added.

Efes guard Sasha Vujacic said he was going to rely on the supporters for victory. “We hope that our fans will be our sixth player. We need to protect our home court. It is crucial in the Top 16,” he said.

Also tonight, winless Beşiktaş travels to undefeated group co-leader Montepaschi Siena in a game that on paper seems one-sided. The Italian champion is in stellar form coming off an exciting road win at defending champion Olympiacos, while Beşiktaş is winless in the Top 16.