Anadolu Efes secured a dominant 93-67 victory over defending champions Panathinaikos in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, with Nigerian stars Jordan Nwora and Daniel Oturu leading the charge.
Nwora, starting in the lineup, and Oturu, coming off the bench, both delivered impressive performances, scoring 15 points apiece. Nwora also contributed eight rebounds, while Oturu added four rebounds and an assist. Oturu’s standout display earned him the Most Valuable Player award for the game.
The duo were only outscored by Rodrigue Beaubois, who led all scorers with 16 points for Efes. This victory improved Anadolu’s record to 8-7 in the EuroLeague this season.
The defeat marked a significant setback for Panathinaikos under coach Ergin Ataman, who expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, stating, “We played like a junior team, but in sports, these things can happen.”
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The game held added significance as Ataman returned to face his former team, having coached Efes from 2017 to 2023. It also marked the return of Panathinaikos captain Shane Larkin from injury after a nine-game absence.
Anadolu head coach Tomislav Mijatovic praised his players’ effort, emphasizing their energy and commitment throughout the game. He highlighted the importance of playing at their best against a strong opponent like Panathinaikos. Mijatovic expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and the return of all players to the squad.
“Congratulations to our players for playing the way we wanted, putting the energy we wanted on the court.
“When you play against a great team, a great coach and a strong leader, you have to give your best in every aspect. Our players did that from start to finish today.”
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