Sarunas Jasikevicius has not forgotten his arrival at Fenerbahçe. After the dismissal of Dimitris Itoudis in mid-December, the Lithuanian took over the helm of the club where he played briefly in 2011 as a player. His first match? A victory against Monaco (86-74), its opponent from this Wednesday evening in a best-of-five series. Himself ousted from Barcelona at the end of last season, Jasikevicius (48), crowned four times as a player but still a fan in the coaching role despite four participations in the Final Four, is on a mission.
His team, which dreams of imitating the women’s section, winner of the Euroleague against Villeneuve-d’Ascq (106-73, April 14), does not look like a sixth in the ranking. She is penalized by her plummeting performance in away matches (5-12). The Turkish group, where we find the former Villeurbanne Amine Noua, is led by the exterior pair Scottie Wilbekin (13.2 points) – Nick Calathes (6.5 points, 4.9 assists) and the interior Johnathan Motley (11.8 points, uncertain this Wednesday evening). But it was winger/power forward Nigel Hayes-Davis who broke the screen, author of the biggest offensive card of the modern era with 50 points, on March 29 (103-68 victory against Alba Berlin ).
The biggest offensive card of the modern era
A mission designed for potential defender of the year John Brown III, decisive in the regular phase return match. Monaco had given back Fenerbahçe (76-69, February 2), its interior compiling 15 points and causing… six strong passes! Mike James, labeled the best player in history not to have won a European title, will be as expected as he is targeted by the Turks.
Monaco would be inspired not to let one of the two initial rounds escape, which it will play this Wednesday evening then Friday at home. Because the winner of the Turkish Cup, in his cauldron at the Ulker Arena, changes his face. He presents the most hermetic record of the season (15-2, tied with Barcelona), displays the most prolific attack (92.7 points), and the best 3-point address (44.1%). of the competition. Be careful, therefore, of any delay in ignition.
