Fenerbahçe secured their place in the Final Four of the EuroLeague after a thrilling victory against Žalgiris in Kaunas. The Turkish side won the deciding game 94-90, completing a 3-1 series victory. Now, Fenerbahçe will face Olympiacos in the semi-finals in Athens.
The match showcased Fenerbahçe's strengths and weaknesses under Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius. They demonstrated excellent shooting, finishing with 27 successful two-point shots out of 47 attempts, and dominated the rebounds with 43 to Žalgiris' 34. Birkan Altun had a standout performance, scoring 21 points with high efficiency, while Horace Jenkins provided crucial moments when the game was at stake.
However, Fenerbahçe also revealed some vulnerabilities that Olympiacos will need to exploit. The team committed 15 turnovers and struggled with ball handling under pressure. When Žalgiris increased their defensive pressure and quick shooting, Fenerbahçe lost their rhythm, resulting in continuous turnovers.
The Lithuanian team found effective strategies against Fenerbahçe’s defensive rotations, finishing with 12 successful three-point shots and 19 assists. In several instances, Fenerbahçe’s defensive adjustments were noticeably slow, especially when they shifted to heavier formations.
Olympiacos is aware that they cannot afford to give up rebounds and extra possessions to Fenerbahçe, as the Turkish team capitalizes on second-chance points through players like Altun and Melih Mahmoud.
