BC FMP became the first team from Group B to advance to the elimination rounds by topping 94-87 Besiktas Cola Turka Istanbul at home in Istanbul on Tuesday. FMP raised its record to 6-2 to remain atop the table, while Besiktas dropped to the bottom of Group B with a 2-6 mark as its hopes of advancing in the competition became purely academic. FMP started on fire with a 11-0 run, answered by Besiktas Cola Turka with a 6-12 spurt late in the quarter to climb within 22-20. The hosts bridged the first two quarters with a 19-5 run to stay in front 43-27. The guests tried to get back trailing again to 50-41 early in the third quarter, but never got closer than 8 points the rest of the way as FMP stayed comfortably ahead until the final buzzer. Dragan Labovic scored 10 of his 23 points in the first quarter to launch his side, adding 9 fouls drawn with 9-of-10 from the foul line. Djordje Micic produced 21 points on 3-of-4 on three-point shooting, Slobodan Popovic added 11 and Marko Djerasimovic and Milos Teodosic chipped in 9 apiece. Aubrey Reese led Besiktas with 27 points – 12 of which came in the first quarter. Reese drew 10 fouls and dished 6 assists, Jamel Thomas contributed with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Brooks Sales netted 9 points and pulled down 7 boards.
 The hosts started focused on their goal by exploding out of the gate with an 11-0 run, highlighted by 8 points from Labovic, before Reese stopped the Besiktas drought from downtown. Thomas tried to ignite the visitors with another bomb and two free throws, capping a 0-8 spurt. Bojan Krstovic kept FMP in control, making it 16-8 with four minutes left in the first quarter. Ivan Todorovic increased the cushion with a mid-range jumper, but Reese, the only Besiktas man looking hot, kept his team within 6 with another triple. Labovic became the first player to score in double figures in the game from the foul line, but Besiktas was definitely back in the contest with three free throws from Reese to get to 22-20. Todorovic and Baris Guney exchanged baskets before a Micic three extended the cushion to 27-22 for BC FMP at the end of the first quarter. Teodosic and Djuro Ostojic scored a pair of free throws then Micic showed his versatility driving to the rim to put his side ahead on 31-24, but the defenses seemed to be tougher early in the second quarter. When Labovic scored 4 consecutive points, he pushed his to an 11-point lead. Erkan Veyseloglu and Micic exchanged triples at the midway point of the quarter, then Djerasimovic boosted the hosts again and Zoran Erceg capped an amazing 19-5 run to enjoy a comfortable 43-27 cushion with three minutes left till halftime. Reese stopped a six-minutes scoreless streak from the foul line for Besiktas, which through Sales fought back to 45-35, but Aleksandar Rasic scored from mid-range to lock in a 47-35 halftime scoreline.
Nemanja Protic boosted the hosts back from the lockers with a triple to increase the margin to 50-35 margin. Ostojic ended a 6-0 spurt for the visitors, who closed to 9 points. Popovic scored back-to-back layups to push the hosts to 56-43, but Reese and Sales helped Besiktas back to 58-49 through midway the third quarter. Erdal Bibo and Micic traded baskets before Thomas carried Besiktas to 65-56 and later Sales converted a three-point play to make it 67-59. Rasic drilled a pair from the line to give FMP a 69-59 advantage after 30 minutes. The dynamic duo of Labovic and Micic boosted again FMP to 74-61 early in the fourth, but Cevher Ozer kept Besiktas alive. Djerasimovic and Micic grew the lead to 82-64 midway through the period. With the game practically over, Djerasimovic extended the cushion to 87-70. Reese and Thomas fought to erase the difference to 87-76, before Teodosic sealed the outcome as FMP strolled to a 94-87 win.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Euroleague.net
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