Fenerbahçe wins Turkish President's Cup


Fenerbahçe Doğuş lifted the Turkish President's Cup in men's basketball on Wednesdayafter beating the reigning champions Banvit 75-64.

Fenerbahçe won the trophy for the seventh time and this was the team's second straight win. The reigning league champion Fenerbahçe took on Banvit at the Ankara Sport Hall for the 33rd edition of the cup.

They took control of the game in the first period and led 19-11 after the first 10 minutes. Moreover they added a 20-17 rally in the second quarter for a comfortable 11-point halftime lead. Fenerbahçe posted a 21-20 run in the third quarter, while Banvit closed the game with a narrow 16-15 rally. Jan Vesely (213-C/F-90) was the top-scorer for the winners with 18 points and Luigi Datome (203-F-87) nailed in 14. Konstantinos Sloukas (197-PG-90) poured in 13 points, whilst Brad Wanamaker (193-G-89, college: Pittsburgh) added 11. Angelo Caloiaro (205-PF-89, college: USF, agency: Pensack Sports) replied with 15 points for Banvit. Gasper Vidmar (211-C-87) and Jake Odum (193-G-91, college: Indiana St.) accounted for 10 points each in the defeat.

Fenerbahçe also clinched the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title after routing Olympiakos 80-64 in the finals at Istanbul's Sinan Erdem Dome this year. The Yellow Canaries won the third presidential cup under the Serbian head coach Zeljko Obradovic. Fenerbahçe are living through its golden age with Obradovic. During the Serbian coach's four years, Fenerbahçe has won one EuroLeague title, three league titles and President Cups and one Turkish Cup. The team won eight of its total 21 cups in Obradovic's era. Obradovic himself won 41 cups in his 26-year coaching career.

He said after the match on Wednesday, "My players played with big desire. Everybody contributed to the win. Our fans also helped us greatly. It was the first match of the season. We must be prepared because we will be entering a very difficult period."