Daniel Oturu delivered a game-high 21 points off the bench to lead Anadolu Efes to a dominant 96-63 victory over Yukatel Merkezefendi in the Turkish Basketbol Super Ligi on Monday at Pamukkale University Arena.
Anadolu, the favorites heading into the matchup, set the tone early by outscoring their opponents 25-17 in the first quarter. They extended their lead in the second quarter, finishing 28-17. While Merkezefendi put up a spirited fight to tie the third quarter 22-22, Anadolu’s superior firepower took over in the fourth, overwhelming the hosts 20-7.
Oturu, a 6’10” center, ignited the Efes offense, delivering a game-high 21 points off the bench. He also contributed eight rebounds and an assist in just 17 minutes of action. Fellow Nigerian Jordan Nwora, a starter, added 16 points, three rebounds, and four assists to the victory.
Oturu’s impactful performance earned him the Most Valuable Player award, a fitting recognition against his former team.
More Read
Head coach Tomislav Mijatovic praised his team’s efforts and focus after the game. “For us, it’s not about the margin of victory but how we played,” Mijatovic said. “We played with determination and toughness, and I congratulate my players for that. Keeping our concentration high in every match is crucial, and our defense today was outstanding against a team with talented individual scorers.”
The victory moves Anadolu Efes to third place in the standings, just one point behind defending champions Fenerbahce in first and Tofas in second. Their next challenge will be against Monaco in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on December 26.
© Bold Media Innovations & Creative Hub Limited. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
