Aylık arşivler: Şubat 2012
FENERBAHCE ULKER 94 – 87 UNICS
Vidmar got FB Ulker going with free throws that Greer matched with a driving layup for a 2-2 tie. Domercant shined with an off-balance jumper but back-to-back driving layups by Bogdanovic and Roko Ukic put FB Ulker back ahead, 6-4. Ukic kept pacing the hosts with a huge basket in transition but Greer struck from downtown to keep Unics within 8-7. Ukic took over with another driving basket that Aleksey Savrasenko matched with a layup. Wilkinson sank a corner triple but Bogdanovic hit a one-handed jumper in the lane for a 12-12 tie. Greer made foul shots and a layup by Wilkinson made FB Ulker call timeout at 12-16. Engin Atsur nailed a triple only to see Greer beat the shot clock buzzer with a floating layup, good for a 15-18 Unics lead. Kelly McCarty made a close shot and Wilkinson scored again. Three-pointers by Tomas and Preldzic kept FB Ulker as close as 21-22. Greer made free throws and a layup by Savrasenko gave Unics a 21-26 edge after 10 minutes.
Wilkinson hit his second three-pointer early in the second quarter, but FB Ulker improved its defense. Meanwhile, Ukic sank a close shot and Oguz Savas scored down low for a 25-29 deficit. Wilkinson made free throws that Savas erased with a tip-in. A red hot Wilkinson swished another triple, as Unics kept circulating the ball well to find open shots. Preldzic hit foul shots and a layup by Bogdanovic forced Unics to call timeout at 31-34. Both teams had entered the foul bonus, which forced the coaches to change their defensive strategies. Bogdanovic split foul shots and a put-back basket by Savas got the hosts even closer, 34-36. Greer hit free throws and after Mirsad Turkcan sank a long jumper, a power basket by Domercant restored a 36-40 Unics edge. Ukic and Domercant traded driving layups and a corner jumper by Bogdanovic got FB Ulker a bit closer, 40-44. Domercant scored in penetration, but Preldzic fed Kaya Peker for a layup that fixed the halftime score at 42-44.
A put-back dunk by James Gist tied the game at 44-44, right after the break. Greer shined with a put-back layup and a driving basket for a 46-48 Unics lead. Ukic took over with an off-balance shot in transition and collected a steal that allowed Peker to give the hosts a 50-48 edge. Greer stayed unstoppable with free throws and Domercant downed a jumper but a three-pointer by Tomas back FB Ulker back ahead, 53-52. Greer buried another three-pointer as Unics tried a stronger frontcourt with Wilkinson and Nathan Jawai together on court. Atsur and Peker combined for 1-of-4 foul shots, but back-to-back layups by Jawai gave the guests some fresh air at 54-59. Terrell Lyday, who had been scoreless until now, took over with a wild layup-plus-foul and an unstoppable Greer buried a triple and banked in a double-pump bomb from almost midcourt to break the game open, 55-68, through three quarters.
Ukic tried to ignite the hosts’ comeback with a quick basket early in the fourth quarter. Unics, however, kept locking the defensive board and running its offense through Greer. He found Jawai for a layup that Preldzic matched with a driving basket for a 59-70 FB Ulker deficit. Bogdanovic soon added a bomb from downtown to make Unics call timeout at 62-70. Vidmar took over with a put-back slam, as Unics struggled to score right when it mattered. Meanwhile, a floating jumper by Ukic made it 66-70 with under 6 minutes left. Domercant silenced the crowd with a big triple, but Vidmar quickly answered with a jump hook and Tomas struck from downtown to set the crowd on fire, 71-73. Vereemenko dunked, however Turkcan erased it with free throws. Veremeenko kept shining in crunch time, following a backdoor layup with an off-balance basket that seemed to seal the outcome, 73-79, with 1:23 left. Preldzic and Bogdanovic made free throws to bring FB Ulker within 77-79 with 25.5 second left in regulation. Wilkinson missed foul shots and Ukic beat the shot clock with a rainbow jumper that sent the game to overtime, 79-79, setting Ulker Sports Arena on fire.
Vidmar hit a jump hook early in the extra period and Greer split free throws for an 81-80 Unics deficit. Turkcan stepped up with a put-back layup that Wilkinson copied in the other end and a free throw by McCarty tied it again, 83-83, with three minutes to go. Bogdanovic shined with a turnaround jumper, as Unics kept missing shots down the stretch. Vidmar split free throws, grabbed his own offensive rebound and went 1-of-2 from the line for an 87-83 score. Another Unics turnover sent Preldzic to the foul line to give FB Ulker an 89-83 edge with under a minute left. More free throws by Preldzic and Bogdanovic allowed FB Ulker to get a 94-87 lead with 6 seconds left. Unics had a last chance to survive a tough test and keep its chances alive in unbelievable fashion, but was unable to convert and the hosts celebrated a wild win!
Fenerbahce outplays Rabita to score speedy away win in Baku
Baku, Azerbaijan, February 22, 2012. Last year’s bronze medalists of Fenerbahce Universal ISTANBUL somehow shocked Azerbaijan’s Volleyball family this afternoon at “Sarhadchi Olympic Centre” by downing the 2011 club world champions of Rabita BAKU in straight sets (25-13, 26-24, and 25-19) in the first round of action for the 1/4 finals of the 2012 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Women.
Fenerbahce opened with strong services provided by US American Logan Tom and even though Rabita gradually found momentum, still the first set was sealed with a massive 25-13 by the guests from Turkey. Rabita’s reception was not consistent also in set 2 and even though the Serbian duo composed by Sanja Starovic and Mira Golubovic did their best in order to re-group their side, still Fenerbahce dominated the scene mainly via the spikes of Korean Kim Yeon-Koung. That same trend was maintained also in set 3 and Fenerbahce could eventually celebrate a great away win, while Rabita will have to turn the tables around next week at “Burhan Felek” Volleyball Hall to qualify for the final four that is scheduled for late March in Baku.
“We played poorly and we did not expect such a result” says home captain Natalya Mammadova. “But this is Volleyball and it can happen. However, we want to deliver a good performance next week also to the delight of our many fans” she adds. “We did not play at all while Fenerbahce did a good job in service and reception” stresses Rabita mentor Zoran Gajic. “However, if we can play our best next week in Turkey as we shall do, we still have a chance to continue our campaign”. “We played a good match but to be honest we did not reckon with such a result. This victory makes us very happy” concludes Fenerbahce captain Seda Tokatlioglu.
FENERBAHCE TURN BACK BRAVE BLMA
Fenerbahce didn’t lose a game in Round 1 of the EuroLeague Women and they’re still the only undefeated team in the competition after an 83-71 victory over Lattes Montpellier on the opening night of play-off action.
Penny Taylor poured in 24 points and Ivana Matovic 20 as Fener rolled to a convincing triumph.
The Turkish giants stormed into a 26-8 lead late in the first quarter with Matovic scoring eight points.
Taylor and Angel McCoughtry had six apiece as the hosts took command.
The French outfit didn’t quit and went on a 6-0 run to close the gap to 59-48 with 2:22 to go in the third quarter.
A Diandra Tchatchouang basket reduced the arrears to 62-52 at the end of the frame.
Taylor started the fourth with a pair of free-throws, though, and Zane Tamane took the advantage to 14 with a jump shot as Fenerbahce maintained a comfortable advantage.
The visitors continued to scrap and reduced the arrears to 73-65 with 4:49 remaining on a fast-break lay-up by Kristen Mann.
The basket forced Fener coach George Dikeoulakos to call a timeout.
When play resumed, Matovic scored and Tamane followed with a basket to extend the lead back to 77-65 as Fener maintained control.
Tamane ended up with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Montpellier got 20 points from Mann and 13 from Sacko.
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