Fenerbahçe opened the new Turkish basketball season with another trophy, beating Beşiktaş 72-59 on Tuesday to win the Presidential Cup for a record-extending ninth time.
The victory at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Sports Hall gave Fenerbahçe its second consecutive Presidential Cup after last year’s 85-83 win over Beşiktaş at the same venue.
Fenerbahçe, coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, took control early and built a 19-point halftime lead before holding off a second-half comeback from Beşiktaş.
The defending Basketball Super League and Turkish Cup champions started with an 11-0 run late in the opening quarter to take a 21-10 lead.
Their defense continued to frustrate Beşiktaş in the second period, particularly from beyond the arc, as Fenerbahçe outscored its opponent 25-17 to enter halftime with a 46-27 advantage.
Beşiktaş came out with greater intensity after the break and gradually cut into the deficit. The Black Eagles finished the third quarter 12 points behind at 58-46 and moved within eight, 60-52, early in the fourth.
Fenerbahçe responded before the comeback could gather further momentum, putting together a 6-0 run that included two Wade Baldwin free throws to restore a comfortable cushion.
Neither team found much rhythm offensively in the closing minutes, but Fenerbahçe did enough to secure the 72-59 victory.
Baldwin led Fenerbahçe with 13 points and six assists, while Braxton Key added 11 points and provided a strong presence on the boards.
Shavon Shields finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Will Clyburn scored eight and Trent Forrest and Nicolo Melli each had seven.
Jaylen Nowell matched Baldwin's 13 points to lead Beşiktaş. Devon Dotson scored nine and Scottie Wilbekin added eight, while Furkan Korkmaz fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Despite Baldwin and Nowell sharing the scoring lead, it was Shields who claimed the Most Valuable Player award after his all-around performance.
The victory extended Fenerbahçe's Presidential Cup tally to nine, second only to Anadolu Efes' 14 titles. Fenerbahçe's previous triumphs came in 1990, 1991, 1994, 2007, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2025.
The Presidential Cup, first contested in 1985, traditionally brings together the previous season's Basketball Super League champion and Turkish Cup winner. When one club wins both competitions, the league runner-up takes its place in the matchup.
Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş met in last year's Presidential Cup as well, with Fenerbahçe prevailing 85-83 and Devon Hall earning MVP honors.
The competition was not played for three seasons because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
The latest meeting added another chapter to Fenerbahçe's recent success against Beşiktaş in major domestic competitions, following their victories in the Turkish Cup and league finals in recent seasons.
After the final buzzer, Beşiktaş players received their runners-up medals before Fenerbahçe's players took the stage.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül presented the championship medals to the Fenerbahçe players, while Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak and Turkish Basketball Federation President Hidayet Türkoğlu handed the Presidential Cup to captain Melih Mahmutoğlu.
Mahmutoğlu lifted the trophy above his head as Fenerbahçe players, coaches, club officials and supporters celebrated another title in Istanbul.
