May 21, 2013
Regular Season Game 4 - November 13, 2008 CET: 19:15 Local time: 20:15 - ABDI IPEKÇI SPORTS HALL
Fenerbahce Ulker 89 - 87 Union Olimpija

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
0-0 Top 16 0-0
2-1 Regular Season 0-3
2-1 Overall 0-3

Referees

Crew Chief
SPIRIDONOS, LEONIDAS, Greece
Referee
BULTO, VICENTE, Spain
Umpire
ANASTOPOULOS, PANAGIOTIS, Greece

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
74.0 Points 73.7
33.0 Rebounds 34.0
9.3 O. Rebounds 13.0
23.7 D. Rebounds 21.0
12.7 Assists 10.3
6.7 Steals 5.3
2.0 Blocks 2.7
14.7 Turnovers 16.0
53.5 % 2PT 47.5 %
33.7 % 3PT 35.7 %
84.2 % FT 65.2 %
70.7 Index 65.3
Team Stats - Fenerbahce Ulker
Team Stats - Union Olimpija

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
15.3 / TURKCAN, MIRSAD Points 16.0 / Begic
9.0 / TURKCAN, MIRSAD Rebounds 7.3 / Begic
2.3 / Smith OR 4.0 / Begic
7.3 / TURKCAN, MIRSAD DR 3.3 / Begic
5.3 / Green Assists 2.3 / MILIC, MARKO
1.7 / Preldzic Steals 1.7 / OZBOLT, SASO
1.0 / Savas Blocks 2.7 / Begic
3.7 / TURKCAN, MIRSAD Turnovers 4.0 / Ilievski
100.0 % / MRSIC, DAMIR 2PT 100.0 % / Robinson
50.0 % / TURKCAN, MIRSAD 3PT 50.0 % / WALLACE, JONATHAN
100.0 % / TURKCAN, MIRSAD FT 100.0 % / OZBOLT, SASO
16.7 / TURKCAN, MIRSAD Index 23.0 / Begic
Team Roster - Fenerbahce Ulker
Team Roster - Union Olimpija

THE TAKE

Fenerbahce Ulker will look to continue its strong start to the season Thursday when it hosts Union Olimpija at the Abdi Ipekci Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. The Turkish champs are coming off a tough road win at DKV Joventut, in which Emir Preldzic shined with a career-high 17 points. Meanwhile Olimpija dropped to 0-3 last week with a loss to Lottomatica Roma. Despite the results, Olimpija has plenty to be happy about, starting with center Mirza Begic’s development into one of the top big man around. Veterans Vlado Ilievski and Marko Milic have led the team with consistently strong performance and Saso Ozbolt has shown flashes of his pre-injury scoring ability. But the Slovenian champs have their Achilles’s heels too. Olimpija is second in the league in turnovers with 16 per game and is shooting a lowly 65.2 % from the free-throw line, in an average of 23 attempts per game. Those missed free throws have been costly. Fenerbahce continues to be plagued by injuries and does not expect to have Goran Giricek, Omar Onan or Semih Erden in uniform again this week. However, a strong start to the season by star power forward Mirsad Turkcan and a very balanced scoring attack with five players averaging double figures in points have the club looking good. A key reason for the scoring is playmaker Marques Green, who leads the club in minutes played and is second in the league in assists. Green will pit his skills against Ilievski and backup Jonathan Wallace in a matchup that will be crucial to both team’s chances. Another duel to keep an eye on will be in the paint, where Fener will look to Oguz Savas and Gasper Vidmar to handle the 2.20-meter Begic. Milic, Miha Zupan and Vladimir Golubovic join Begic on an imposing frontline. The hosts can counter with Turkcan, Preldzic and teenage sensation Enes Kanter. On the wings, Devin Smith, veteran shooter Damir Kaan Mrsic and Rasim Basak lead the way for Fener, while Olimpija boasts Ozbolt, Damjan Rudez, Jaka Klobucar and Frank Robinson. For Olimpija to have a real chance at a tough road win – it has not won in Turkey since December 1999 when it beat Tofas Bursa 74-78 behind 20 points from the great Jure Zdovc – it will need one of its young guns to step up and perform while still getting what it’s become accustomed to from the trio of Milic, Ilievski and Begic. If Olimpija can match the balance that Fener had and force the hosts to worry more on defense, it could be a big road win for head coach Aleksandar Dzikic’s hard-working team.

GAME NOTES

Union Olimpija

  • Guard Vlado Ilievski enters this week’s game against Fenerbahce Ulker needing 4 more points to reach 1,000 for his Euroleague Basketball career.
  • Center Mirza Begic has scored at least 15 points and grabbed at least 7 rebounds in every game this season. He never scored in double digits and only once had more than 4 rebounds in nine games last season.
  • Big man Miha Zupan and swingman Jaka Klobucar were teammates with Fenerbahce forward Emir Preldzic on the Slovenian national team at the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens last summer.
  • Forward and team captain Marko Milic played 11 Euroleague games for Fenerbahce during the 1998-99 season.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

TANJEVIC, BOGDAN
Fenerbahce Ulker
“Definitely this is one of the most important games that we are going to play in the group. If we can win, then we will have a good advantage against them for the remaining matches. They lost all three matches they played in the group, but it does not mean that they are a weak team. On the contrary, they are a very good team that beat us by a large margin in the preseason tournament in Ljubljana. New we have a good advantage in the group and have the chances in our hands to eliminate the others from the challenge of next round. They lost all three matches, including one with a last second basket against Tau Ceramica. They challenged in the other games into the last second, too. And for sure, they will come to Istanbul to win. Anyway, we also proved what we can do in this hard league by beating DKV Joventut on the road last week. For that reason, we are expecting to see our fans in Abdi Ipekci support us in this very serious game.”
DZIKIC, ALEKSANDAR
Union Olimpija
"The situation after four straight defeats in the Euroleague and the Adriatic League is not comfortable. But our goals remain the same. We are working hard, the team is improving in all aspects and that will eventually show in the number of wins. I still believe that a win would turn things around for us and when that happens, it will be hard to stop us. My players have to show that they want to play and that they love playing for Union Olimpija. The game against Fenerbahce Ulker will be tough, but I am convinced that we can win that one. Our rival is a similar team to ours, with tall players and formations with three players, which means they are similar to us. I hope my players will give their best and that we will be back from Istanbul with our first win."

Players

VIDMAR, GASPER
Fenerbahce Ulker
“We lost to them in the preseason tournament with big difference, but we are different than before. And of course it’s different to play in an exhibition tournament, rather than to play in the Euroleague. But honestly, Union Olimpija is a dangerous team that we have to be very careful of. We have to be motivated the same way we were last week against DKV Joventut. We have good momentum at the moment and we don’t want to break it with a mistake.”
MILIC, MARKO
Union Olimpija
"Without a doubt, we are going through a results crisis. One single basket against Tau Ceramica and another against Cibona last Sunday could have changed a lot of things for us. But now it is not the time to look into the past, our minds are focused on the near future with the game against Fenerbahce Ulker. We need this win to keep thinking about the Top 16 and, most of all, to believe in ourselves. I am sure that three losses in three Euroleague games is not the real face of this team, and we have to show this on Thursday."
Oguz Savas - Fenerbahce UlkerFenerbahce Ulker won its third consecutive game in Group C by edging Union Olimpija 89-87 at Abdi Ipecki Sports Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday night, in just third-ever double-overtime thriller of the decade. FB Ulker joins a three-way tie for first place in Group C along with Tau Ceramica and Lottomatica Roma, each with a 3-1 record. Meanwhile, Olimpija dropped to 0-4. Emir Preldzic paced the winners with a Euroleague career-high 18 points. Oguz Savas added 15, Mirsad Turkcan posted a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds and Marques Green and Rasim Basak each had 13 for Fener. Basak also had his biggest Euroleague scoring night. Vlado Ilievski led Olimpija with 22 points, Saso Ozbolt added 20 and Miha Zupan had 10 for the guests. FB Ulker led 66-59 with seven minutes to go, but Ozbolt led the guests' comeback, including a running triple to send the game to overtime, 73-73. Damjan Rudez shined with a driving layup as Olimpija forced a second extra period, 81-81. Free throws by Turkcan and Green allowed Fener to take an 89-87 edge and Ilievski missed a running shot at the buzzer.

Fenerbahce opened the game with a 2-1-2 zone defense, which Mirza Begic beat with an easy layup. Preldzic matched it with a jumper, but Ilievski answered from downtown for a 2-5 Olimpija edge. FB Ulker switched to man-to-man defense, but Begic stayed unstoppable with a jump hook. Fenerbahce struggled to hit outside shots until Basak buried a corner triple. Savas soon added a put-back layup to give the hosts their first lead, 8-7. Ozbolt shined with a driving basket that Ilievski followed with a stop-and-pop jumper to put Olimpija back ahead, 8-11. Preldzic took over with a wild driving layup, igniting an 8-0 run in which Turkcan and Green added fast break baskets for a 16-11 Fener lead. Vladimir Golubovic stepped up with a layup, but Basak made free throws, sank a four-meter jumper and nailed a big three-pointer to boost the hosts' margin to 24-15. A mid-range jumper by Zupan brought Olimpija within 24-17 after 10 minutes.

Vlado Ilievski - Union OlimpijaDamir Mrsic nailed a three-pointer right at the start of the second quarter, but Ilievski made free throws and Golubovic added a power layup to help Olimpija find its scoring rhythm. Savas and Golubovic traded baskets before a fast break layup by Jonathan Wallace brought the guests back in the game at 29-25. Savas paced FB Ulker with 4 quick points, but Golubovic and Rudez kept Olimpija within 33-29. Wallace took over with a seven-meter bomb, while a jump hook by Zupan completed the guests' comeback, 33-34, after a 0-9 run. Smith provided a highlight with a reverse layup, as Fener switched back to zone defense. Zupan stayed on fire with a floating layup which Turkcan matched with an off-balance jumper. Smith kept shining with a fast break dunk, but Wallace kept the guests as close as 39-38. Savas and Smith combined to make 4 of 6 free throws, but Begic and Golubovic brought Olimpija within 43-42 at halftime.

Marko Milic made free throws right after the break only to see Prelzdic immediately answer from downtown for a 46-44 Fener edge. Rudez joined the three-point shootout and Ilievski banked in a five-meter jumper to provide another lead change, 46-49. Turkcan found space for an open three-pointer, which Green followed with a layup off a steal. Milic copied him soon after that. The hosts were the more aggressive team at both ends now, but Fenerbahce did not find good options in offense. Preldzic took over with a wild move in the low post, but Ozbolt tied the game again, 54-54, on a layup-plus-foul. Preldzic kept pacing FB Ulker with consecutive driving baskets and Basak added with free throws to give the hosts some fresh air at 60-54. Green sank a jumper that capped an 8-0 run, but Ilievski answered to give Olimpija some hope, 62-56, at the end of the third quarter.

Savas shined with a jump hook early in the fourth period, but Ozbolt answered from downtown to give Olimpija some hope at 64-59. Savas insisted with free throws, however Ilievski buried a three-pointer to keep the guests within 66-62 with seven minutes to go. FB Ulker called timeout and tried a zone defense, which Ozbolt punished with a triple that made it a one-point game. Begic followed a free throw with a layup to complete the guests' comeback, 66-68, with less than four minutes remaining. FB Ulker had been scoreless for almost five minutes while Ozbolt capped a 0-11 Olimpija run with foul shots. Preldzic scored in penetration and soon added a running three-pointer for a 71-70 FB Ulker edge with 2:10 to go. Smith shined with a put-back layup, as Ilievski and Zupan missed key three-point shots. Smith also missed from downtown bfore Ozbolt grabbed a rebound, raced downcourt and sank a wild running triple for a 73-73 tie with 13 seconds to go. Fener had the final possession in regulation but Smith missed a corner triple at the buzzer.

Mirsad Turkcan - Fenerbahce UlkerZupan was first to score in the extra period with a jump hook but Mrsic answered from downtown for a 76-75 FB Ulker edge. Ilievski made a free throw, but Green buried a big triple off the dribble to put the hosts back ahead, 79-76. Ilievski joined the three-point shootout, however Turkcan scored around the basket to restore an 81-79 FB edge. Ozbolt, Mrsic and Ilievski missed from downtown, but Olimpija got the ball back with 18.4 seconds to go. Rudez scored in penetration after an Olimpija timeout to tie things at 81-81 with 6.5 seconds remaining. Ilievski collected a steal but did not find Rudez in time to take a shot.

Both teams struggled to score early in the second overtime until Ozbolt stepped up with free throws, which Mrsic erased at the other end for an 83-83 tie. Ilievski was next on the foul line, but made just his second attempt. Green sank a key three-pointer to provide another lead change, 86-84, with two minutes remaining. Ilievski answered from downtown, before Turkcan and Smith missed at the other end. Ilievski could not score either. Free throws by Turkcan put Fener ahead, 88-87, with 37 seconds to go. Smith picked up a huge block on Begic and Green went next to the line with 10.7 seconds remaining. He made only his second attempt, but Ilievski missed a running shot at the buzzer.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Euroleague.net
Referees: SPIRIDONOS, LEONIDAS (GRE), BULTO, VICENTE (ESP), ANASTOPOULOS, PANAGIOTIS (GRE)
Attendance: 3000
By Quarter1234Extra 1Extra 2
Fenerbahce Ulker2419191188
Union Olimpija1725141786
End of Quarter1234Extra 1Extra 2
Fenerbahce Ulker244362738189
Union Olimpija174256738187
Head coach: TANJEVIC, BOGDAN
Fenerbahce Ulker
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
 3FG
M-A
 FT
M-A
 Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
4 GREEN, MARQUES 39:51 13 3/5 2/5 1/2   4 4 1 3 2     3 1 11
6 TURKCAN, MIRSAD 39:43 14 4/9 1/3 3/4 4 7 11     2 1   3 3 16
8 BASAK, RASIM 27:13 13 1/1 2/3 5/5 1 3 4       1   1 3 19
12 MRSIC, DAMIR 23:57 8 1/1 2/7     1 1     2     3 1  
14 VIDMAR, GASPER 9:52 1 0/2   1/2 4 3 7   1   1   3 4 8
15 DEMIREL, HAKAN DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
18 KANTER, ENES 4:01   0/1                     1   -2
21 SAVAS, OGUZ 28:15 15 4/7 0/3 7/10 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1   6 16
32 SMITH, DEVIN 40:58 7 3/7 0/7 1/4 2 5 7 1   2 1   2 4 2
55 PRELDZIC, EMIR 36:10 18 6/10 2/5     7 7 5 1 1     5 1 19
Team                                
Totals 250:00 89 22/43 9/33 18/27 12 31 43 8 6 10 6 1 21 23 89
51.2% 27.3% 66.7%
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
Head coach: DZIKIC, ALEKSANDAR
Union Olimpija
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
 3FG
M-A
 FT
M-A
 Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
5 WALLACE, JONATHAN 33:46 7 2/3 1/4     2 2 2 1       3 1 6
6 ILIEVSKI, VLADO 41:39 22 3/6 4/11 4/6   3 3   2 3     2 5 15
8 KLOBUCAR, JAKA 10:40   0/2   0/2               1 1 2 -4
9 RUDEZ, DAMJAN 23:11 7 2/5 1/2     3 3 1 1       4   4
12 MILIC, MARKO 12:22 4 1/4   2/2   1 1 1 2 3   1 1 1 1
13 HUKIC, JASMIN DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
15 BEGIC, MIRZA 30:00 9 4/12   1/2 2 4 6   2     2 4 4 6
16 SARAJLIJA, MIRZA DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
21 GOLUBOVIC, VLADIMIR 15:19 8 4/6   0/2 2 1 3     2 1 1 2 1 4
24 ZUPAN, MIHA 37:01 10 5/6 0/2 0/2 4 8 12 3         2 1 19
25 ROBINSON, FRANK 7:51   0/1       2 2         1 2   -2
31 OZBOLT, SASO 38:11 20 2/2 3/10 7/7   4 4 2   1     2 6 22
Team           1   1               1
Totals 250:00 87 23/47 9/29 14/23 9 28 37 9 8 9 1 6 23 21 72
48.9% 31% 60.9%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

TANJEVIC, BOGDAN
Fenerbahce Ulker
"Tonight we won a game which we could have lost. It was a very hard game as we expected before. Our opponent Union Olimpija is a strong team which has great vision for future. And it makes it more important for us to win this game. My players did everything they could to win, like the opponent. We put enough energy and the resistance on the court tonight. Emir Preldzic rised the team up when we were down. He fired up the team and influenced the game all over. He also helped the rebounds and made a great number of assists to help his team. He played like the leader of the team. But he was not alone as the other young talents joined him in the game. Oguz Savas also made great effort to play the key role of the win. New we have to take a little rest to have another big challenge in the Turkish League against Besiktas Cola Turka this weekend."
DZIKIC, ALEKSANDAR
Union Olimpija
"First of all, I would like to congratulate my respectable colleague Bogdan Tanjevic and his team for their win. I think both sides enjoyed the game it's because the game were head to head until the end. Fenerbahce Ulker won the game after two overtimes as we lost another game with a small difference. We could win the game but we don't have luck on our side. Anyway, we will try to do everything we can to move into the next stage."

Players

BASAK, RASIM
Fenerbahce Ulker
"Union Olimpija really had a great game and it's a pity that only one team can win the game. We could play much better but in these circumstances, winning is better than nothing. We forced the game in the ciritical moments and never gave up to deserve the win. Now we have a very important local league game against Besiktas Cola Turka which we have to focus on."
TURKCAN, MIRSAD
Fenerbahce Ulker
"It was a very difficuflt and at the same time, tiresome game for both sides. We knew that it was going to be a very hard one. Because Union Olimpija had lost its previous games with just small differences. Fortunately, we put a lot of energy in the game, fought for every ball and showed the team character once again. Now we will have two straight important games in the Turkish League against Besiktas Cola Turka and Efes Pilsen and that's what we will focus on from now on."
ILIEVSKI, VLADO
Union Olimpija
"Unfortunately we lost another game at crunch time and remained winless in our group. This is one of the most important games of the group for us. We have prepared very well and came very close to win on both ends. But Fenerbahce Ulker also had plenty of talented and experienced players in their team as they stayed alive in the minutes which we ruled the game. It was to be sad for any of the teams who would lose and it happened to us. Now we have nothing to do but try to win other games."
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