The basketball players from FC Bayern Munich gave Fenerbahce Istanbul a fight on equal terms, but the favorite ultimately prevailed with 76:67 points. Although the Audi Dome was sold out for the first time this season with 6,500 spectators, the Munich professionals still ran onto the floor in a shrill concert of whistles: the hall was almost traditionally filled with a third of Turkish fans. And in keeping with the atmosphere, both teams immediately engaged in a fast-paced exchange of blows, initially with the hosts having a slight advantage: after the first quarter, FCB led 20:19. That changed when Istanbul’s Scottie Wilbekin came into play. The US guard with a Turkish passport is a kind of bogeyman for Bayern, whether for Darüssafaka Istanbul, Maccabi Tel Aviv or Fenerbahce, the playmaker is always in top form on the Munich floor – and was also the best scorer that evening with 17 points.
It’s just a good thing that Bayern also have a first-class director in Sylvain Francisco; the French national player fought a three-way private duel with Wilbekin at times and was FCB’s best scorer with eleven points. The fact that the guests were still ahead 41:38 at halftime was due to their noble squad. Last season, Fenerbahce was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, far too little for the Turks’ demands, who continued to beef up their strong staff. Players like Serbian national player Marko Guduric (14 points) and 2.20 meter center Georgios Papagiannis (8) put their team clearly ahead for the first time before the final quarter with 55:47.
But this Munich team can also keep up with opponents of this caliber, fought tirelessly and kept the game open until the final seconds. World champion Isaac Bonga (8 points), NBA import Serge Ibaka (9) and Devin Booker (9) were particularly convincing. The crucial drawback was the poor three-point rate, with only six of 29 attempts hitting the target.
