EuroLeague: Fenerbahce Beko beat Anadolu Efes in derby

By Fatih Erel and Can Erozden

ISTANBUL (AA) - Fenerbahce Beko defeated Anadolu Efes 84-66 on Thursday evening in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season match.

In the Istanbul derby, home team Fenerbahce cemented their regular season leadership behind a strong second quarter against Anadolu Efes.

Fenerbahce Beko's Greek playmaker Kostas Sloukas scored 17 points against Anadolu Efes, while forward Nikola Kalinic racked up 15 points and Luigi Datome produced 13 points.

Marko Guduric also chipped in with 11 points in the victory.

Visitors Anadolu Efes' French forward Adrien Moerman was the game's top scorer with 18 points.

Anadolu Efes' US playmaker Shane Larkin scored 13 points and his German teammate Tibor Pleiss scored 11 points.

Fenerbahce Beko currently top the league since they have 21 wins and only 3 losses so they have already qualified for the playoffs.

Having lost Thursday's derby, Anadolu Efes are in the fourth spot in standings, they have 15 wins and nine defeats.

In addition to Fenerbahce Beko, Russian giants CSKA Moscow and Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid will be in the playoffs.

Meanwhile Turkey's Darussafaka Tekfen lost against Israel's Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv 77-58 in an away match tonight.

Sixteen teams are competing in the Turkish Airlies Euroleague -- four Spanish, three Turkish, two Russian and two Greek teams and one team each from Germany, Italy, Israel, Lithuania and Montenegro.

Turkey is represented by Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahce Beko and Darussafaka Tekfen.

The regular season is being played from Oct. 11, 2018 to April 5, 2019 with the top eight advancing to the playoffs.

The playoffs will take place between April 16 and 30.

Winners will advance to the Final Four to be held on May 17-19 at Fernando Buesa Arena in Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in single-elimination matchups.