ISTANBUL — Artūrs Zoriks poured in 13 points for Türk Telekom Ankara, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 92-83 defeat to Anadolu Efes in Turkish Basketball Super League action on Wednesday night at the Sinan Erdem Dome.
The Latvian guard, in his first season with the Ankara-based club after departing Lietkabelis, showed flashes of the scoring touch that made him a standout in the Latvian-Estonian League, hitting four of his seven three-point attempts and adding two free throws to his tally. He similarly contributed three assists and two rebounds in 28 minutes of play.
Despite Zoriks’ individual effort, Türk Telekom fell to 8-12 on the season, dropping further behind the playoff pace in a highly competitive BSL standings where only the top eight teams advance to the postseason.
Anadolu Efes, the two-time defending EuroLeague champions and current BSL leaders, improved to 16-4 with the victory. Shane Larkin led the visitors with 22 points and seven assists, while Vasilije Micić added 18 points off the bench, exploiting Türk Telekom’s perimeter defense throughout the second half.
“We knew coming in that Efes would make us work for every possession,” Zoriks said in a post-game interview with the club’s media team. “They’re a top-tier team in Europe for a reason. We had our moments, especially in the first half, but they adjusted and we didn’t have enough answers down the stretch.”
The loss highlights the adjustment period facing the 26-year-old Latvian international as he transitions to one of Europe’s toughest domestic leagues. Türk Telekom, which finished ninth last season, has undergone significant roster turnover this summer, bringing in several new imports including Zoriks, American guard Jalen Harris, and Serbian big man Marko Simonović.
Head coach Erdem Can, in his second year with the club, has emphasized pace and three-point shooting as central tenets of his system — a fit for Zoriks’ skill set as a versatile combo guard capable of playing both on and off the ball.
“Artūrs gives us scoring punch and the ability to stretch defenses,” Can said earlier this week in a press conference at the Ankara Arena. “We need him to be aggressive, make smart decisions, and aid us compete in games like this one where we’re facing elite competition.”
Zoriks, a member of Latvia’s senior national team since 2020, represented his country at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and participated in Olympic qualifying tournaments for Paris 2024. His experience on the international stage has been viewed as an asset by Türk Telekom’s front office as they aim to elevate the club’s profile in European competitions.
The BSL, widely regarded as one of the top three national leagues in Europe alongside Spain’s Liga ACB and Turkey’s own EuroLeague powerhouses, features deep talent pools and high-intensity defense. For Zoriks, the challenge has been adapting to the physicality and tactical complexity of facing veteran-laden rosters night after night.
In his first six BSL appearances, Zoriks is averaging 10.2 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game while shooting 38 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the arc. His usage rate has increased in recent weeks as the team has leaned more heavily on his offensive creation amid injuries to key rotation players.
Türk Telekom’s next fixture is a home game against Bahçeşehir Koleji on December 30 at the Ankara Arena, tipoff set for 7:00 p.m. Local time (4:00 p.m. UTC). Bahçeşehir, currently 10-10, presents another formidable test as they push for a playoff berth.
For Zoriks, the immediate focus remains on consistency and integration. “Every game is a chance to learn,” he said. “The league is tough, the travel is demanding, but I believe in what we’re building here. We just need to keep fighting, stay connected, and trust the process.”
As the BSL season reaches its midpoint, Türk Telekom will look to its imports to provide the spark needed to climb the standings. Zoriks’ ability to deliver in scoring bursts, as seen in Wednesday’s 13-point output, will be a key factor in determining whether Ankara can turn its season around in the second half.
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