Anadolu Efes secures a win against Darussafaka with a score of 85:78. With this win, Erdem Can’s team concludes an intriguing 2023.
The hosts started the game impressively with an 8:0 run. However, the green-black team consistently stayed around four points behind and didn’t allow the gap to widen. In this quarter, the reigning Turkish champions excelled in three-point shooting, hitting four out of five attempts. After the first ten minutes, the score stood at 26:22 in favor of the home team in a festive atmosphere.
The following quarters saw a closely contested game, with the advantage of the blue and whites hovering around four points and not exceeding that. The popular ‘Dacka’ held their own in every aspect against the champions, staying in the game consistently. The halftime score was 43:39.
The Turkish Super League always brings exciting matchups, and this one was no exception. In the second half, it seemed like the teams were playing by the motto ‘Anything you can do, I can do better.’ It was a back-and-forth affair, featuring baskets, three-pointers, technical fouls—everything you could imagine. Anadolu Efes started the fourth quarter with a 9:0 run, but the guests made a comeback. However, they didn’t have the strength for a complete turnaround, and the defending champions emerged victorious.
The backcourt duo of the hosts shone in this duel. Rodrigue Beabouis scored 22 points and dished out five assists, while Elijah Bryant contributed 21 points, including a decisive three-pointer. On the other side, Berk Demir stood out with 19 points. Anadolu Efes tops the league table and will face Bursaspor in the next round, while Darussafaka will play against Turk Telekom in the upcoming fixture.