In a pivotal game for playoff placings, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (16-11) got closer to the fifth spot with an 81-76 (28-21, 16-18, 23-23, 14-14) win over visiting FC Bayern Munich (13-14).
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
26
|
| Shane Larkin | |
| Points | 20 |
| Accuracy | 6-12 |
| Rebounds | 0 |
| Assists | 4 |
This blow left the German powerhouse eighth in the final regular-season standings. In this case, Barcelona await them in the quarter-finals stage.
Moreover, Efes will not drop below 6th, while Monaco is locked at 7th position.
After an even third quarter (67-62), Shane Larkin continued his successful play in the fourth. With the help of Elijah Bryant and James Andreson, Anadolu Efes restored the double-digit advantage (77-67) with 4 minutes to go.
Both teams exchanged with efficient attacks (79-69), while Zan Mark Sisko and Vladimir Lucic contributed with the baskets (73-79) with 1:30 minutes to play. Anadolu Efes missed a couple of shots, Othello Hunter poured in another duo, and Bayern were down by 4 (75-79) with 33 seconds on the clock.
Nevertheless, Shane Larkin was fouled, he sank both shots from the charity stripe (81-75), and consolidated the hard-fought W.
Larkin led the route for the winners, posting 20 points (5/5 2PT, 1/7 3PT, 7/7 FT), 4 assists, 1 turnover, 9 drawn fouls, and 26 PIR.
"We controlled the whole game, but Bayern was always in the game, too. Coach Andrea [Trinchieri] made an excellent job with this team. They never give up. We gave up a lot of offensive rebounds, and extra points after them, but anyway it's an important victory for us before the playoffs. Now, we will see after the next games which team we will match up against in the playoffs," Ataman said post-game.
Augustine Rubit shone on the other side, accumulating 15 points (4/7 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 4/4 FT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 drawn fouls, and 16 PIR.
"First of all, I want to congratulate Efes and coach Ergin [Ataman] for a great game. I believe they played a playoff game. We competed. I believe we gave our best for today; it was not enough. Sometimes there is also an opponent that plays better," spoke Andrea Trinchieri.
Powered by Shane Larkin and Krunoslav Simon, Anadolu Efes 10-2 in the mid-first quarter and created an 8-point lead (14-6), which grew up to double digits at the start of the second (35-23).
However, the big men combo of Augustine Rubit and Othello Hunter maintained Bayern within fighting distance, while 5 points differed the clubs, going into the break (44-39).
Anadolu Efes: Shane Larkin 20 (4 AST), Adrien Moerman 17 (6 REB), Krunoslav Simon 13, Bryant Dunston 10 (7 REB), Tibor Pleiss 9.
Bayern: Augustine Rubit 15, Zan Mark Sisko 11 (5 AST), Darrun Hilliard 9.
Highlights
