Visiting Beşiktaş Cola Turka Men’s Basketball Team lost 83-65 to Galatasaray Café Crown in the first game of semifinal playoff series as yellow & reds took 1-0 lead in the series.

Black & Whites started the game played in Ahmet Cömert Sports Saloon with Erdal Bibo, Barış Güney, Barış Özcan, McFarlin and Levent Bilgin and displayed an effective defensive performance early on. However long range shots by the home side often found their targets and gave Galatasaray a 17-9 lead at the end of the first period.

During the second period, the insistent attacks by Beşiktaş Cola Turka paid off as it gradually closed the gap to 23-21 with 6:00 left. However Black & Whites playing without their key American Players were unable to handle Galatasaray’s Fitch whose impressive scoring performance enabled home team to remain 45-31 in front going into its locker room at the half.

With the start of the semifinal’s second half, Galatasaray virtually dominated the game as Black & Whites managed to score only 7 points during the first 6 minutes. Playing with on unusually high field goal percentage the home side did not miss any of its scoring chances while the deficit between Istanbul’s arch rivals grew to 63-42 with three minutes left in the period. Unable to respond to the high scoring performance staged by Mitchell, Fitch and Tufan, Beşiktas trailed 72-48 going into the final period.

Beşiktaş Cola Turka tried to stage a final come back in the fourth period but could not create an offensive rebounding superiority as the home side converted Black & Whites second chances into fast break baskets. Beşiktas Cola Turka’s shots taken from behind the 3 point arch were also off-target while Galatasaray continued to build up its advantage with easy baskets scored from the painted area. At the final buzzer Beşiktaş Cola Turca trailed 83-65 as yellow & red team posted a 1-0 lead in the semifinal playoff series.