Karsiyaka takes 3-1 lead in TBL finals

Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir took another huge step towards the Turkish TBL title with a 91-88 overtime victory at home against Anadolu Efes Istanbul. After losing Game 1, Karsiyaka has rallied and won the last three game consecutively to take charge of the series 3-1, although the championship run has been extremely tight.
Nevertheless, Turkey’s most successful club, Anadolu Efes, is on the ropes and Karsiyaka needs just one more win to claim just its second TBL title.

22 out of 28 (76.8%) down the stretch helped Karsiyaka come back from a large losing position through three quarters. Anadolu Efes started well away from home and managed to hold a hot Izmir contingent to 17-17 through the first quarter. The visitors carried the momentum and edged a close fought second act 18-20 to lead 35-37 through the long break. The Istanbul guests looked buoyed by the halftime lead and exploded in the third with a 19-32 run that made it a fifteen point game through thirty minutes (54-69). The series looked to be heading to 2-2, but Karsiyaka went hot in the chase through the fourth quarter, draining 28 points and holding Anadolu to 13, tying proceedings 72-72 at the end of regulation. The hosts were hot now, and in the overtime period the Izmir based players edged the act to win the game.

Bobby Dixon topped the scoring with 24 points for the winners, while Jon Diebler managed 20 points and 6 rebounds. Kenny Gabriel hit 16 points and 7 rebounds in the win and D.J. Strawberry was solid at the post with 13 points and 9 boards.

Stratos Perperoglou hit 21 points, followed by Matt Janning with 20 points, Birkan Batuk with 17 points, and Stephane Lasme with 11 points and 7 rebounds for the losing effort.