Galatasaray MCT Technic opened its Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi campaign in dominant fashion on opening weekend, securing a comfortable 102-79 victory against Çayırova Belediyespor at the Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu. The yellow-reds established control early in the fixture, overcoming a spirited third-quarter push from the visitors to seal a 23-point margin under the officiating trio of Ziya Özorhon, Orhan Çağrı Hekimoğlu, and Tolga Akkuşoğlu.
Early Dominance Sets the Tone
Playing at home in Istanbul, Galatasaray asserted authority right from the opening tip. The hosts took a 26-18 lead by the end of the first period, moving the ball efficiently against Çayırova’s defense. Maintaining that offensive momentum into the second quarter, the side built a 57-43 advantage by halftime. Balanced scoring proved central to the early surge, as multiple rotation players contributed heavily to the double-digit cushion heading into the locker rooms.
Çayırova’s Third-Quarter Rally
Despite trailing heavily at the break, Çayırova Belediyespor mounted a significant response in the third period. The visitors tightened their defensive cover and capitalized on offensive miscues, chipping away at the deficit until the score tightened to 78-73. That five-point margin narrowed the gap considerably and momentarily tested Galatasaray’s composure on the floor. However, the hosts regrouped before the final buzzer, clamping down defensively to keep Çayırova at bay.
Closing Out the Win
Galatasaray reasserted complete control during the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors down the stretch to pull away permanently. The final whistle sounded at 102-79, marking a high-scoring opening statement for the Istanbul club. Pierre and Smailagic led the winners with 16 points apiece, anchoring an attack that saw contributions across the entire roster. Şehmus Hazer added 15 points, Metu finished with 13, Robinson chipped in 11, while Ballo and Can Korkmaz each contributed 10 points. Ivanovic added 8 and Nikolic chipped in 3 to round out the scoring sheet.
Standout Performances for the Visitors
For Çayırova Belediyespor, Crawford earned game-high scoring honors with 21 points. White followed closely with 20 points, and Simmons added 14. Gallinat reached 10 points, Sulaimon contributed 9, Enes Berkay Taşkıran scored 3, and Canberk Kuş added 2 points in the season-opening defeat.
Galatasaray will look to carry this momentum into their next fixture as the Basketbol Süper Ligi regular season continues.
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