Beşiktaş Cola Turka Men’s Basketball Team lost its first ULEB Cup Group B game against Ventspils of Latvia (76-65).

Starting the game with their regular line up of Ostojic, Jamel Thomas, Reese, Cevher Özer, Erkan Veyseloğlu, Beşiktaş scored the first points of the game through Reese’s three-point shot. During the early part of the game our Black and Whites showed a better performance than the visiting team and maintained scoring superiority. However, eventually the experienced Latvian representative began to be effective offensively and tied the score at the end of the period (13-13).     
While Beşiktaş again scored the first points of the second period, Gabrans’ basket put Ventspil ahead for the first time in the game (18-20). The tall players of the Latvian team collected most of the rebounds under both baskets that created extra points for the visiting side. As a result of this impressive performance Ventspils went to the dressing room (42-30) ahead at the close of the first half.
Starting the third period with 4 straight points, the Latvian side took advantage of the defensive mistakes of Beşiktaş Cola Turka and converted most of them into additional baskets. At the last minute of the period the scoring difference between the two teams increased to 20 points. Third period ended (64-47) in favor of Ventspils.
In contrast to other periods Beşiktaş Cola Turka played much better in the last period. The back to back baskets of our Black and Whites began to reduce the score difference. At the end of the first of 2.5 minute of the fourth period the score came to (64-52). However when the outside shooting of Beşiktaş did not produce any extra scoring, they entered into the last of the game by being down (74-61) against the better organized Latvian team. Beşiktaş’s first ULEB cup game of the season ended (76-65) in favor of Ventspils.