Fenerbahce Ulker aims for its second straight win when it hosts struggling Cibona on Wednesday at the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall in Istanbul. After dropping its home opener, FB Ulker rebounded last week to best Asvel Basket on the road 76-78 in overtime behind a career-high 21 points from Tarence Kinsey and an Omer Asik double-double. However the availability of several key players is up in the air this week due to injuries and point guard Willie Solomon will sit out due to disciplinary issues. Kinsey, Gordan Giricek, Rasim Basak, Serhat Cetin and Emir Preldzic are all game day decisions. Meanwhile Cibona has struggled thus far this season, scoring the fewest points in the league (49.5 ppg.), ranking bottom of the league in two-point (34.8%) and three-point shooting (19.6%) and committing the most turnovers (22 TOpg.) Last week it fell 81-59 at Regal FC Barcelona. Small forward Marko Tomas has been the only bright spot so far, though Jamont Gordon showed promise with 12 points, 3 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. That duo will need some help to lead the Croatian champs to a road victory in Istanbul. Gordon will find himself matching up against a proven Euroleague talent in Lynn Greer at point guard. On the wings Tomas, Antonio Graves and Bojan Bogdanovic will challenge Kinsey, Gordan Giricek and Omer Onan. Cibona’s starting power forward Vedran Vukusic must be ready to bang inside with the Semih Erden or to follow around big Emir Preldzic, when FB Ulker shakes things up and makes the 2.06-meter forward a playmaker. Cibona veteran Dalibor Bagaric and Luksa Andric will share time at center where they will face Asik and Oguz Savas. A healthy Fenerbahce would be the clear favorite to win this game due to its depth and Cibona’s recent performances, however with so many question marks surrounding the home team’s roster, it is hard to know what to expect. And head coach Velimir Perasovic built a talented squad this season and players like Graves, Bogdanovic and promising teenager Tomislav Zubcic could be just one good game away from turning the season around and they’ll be giving 100% to make that game is this next one against FB Ulker. One way or another, this game will deliver some real excitement.
REFEREES: Emilio Perez Pizarro, Vicente Bulto, Damir Javor
GAME NOTES
Fenerbahce Ulker
Swingman Gordan Giricek’s professional career took off during five season he spent at Cibona from 1996 through 2001. During that period, he won five Croatian League championships and one Croatian Cup.
Rebounding king Mirsad Turkcan has scored in double figures in eight consecutive Euroleague games. He has made at least one three-pointer in each of those games.
Cibona Zagreb
Dalibor Bagaric and FB Ulker scorer Gordan Giricek were teammates early in their careers at Cibona. The two played together in the 1998-99 season, leading Cibona to the Croatian League crown.
Cibona went 2-8 on the road in the Euroleague last season, but one of those wins came at FB Ulker’s expense, 64-86 in the Top 16. Current Cibona players combined to score just 14 of the team’s points that day.