Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul secured their place in the Turkish Cup final after defeating Turk Telekom Ankara 86-78 in the second semifinal matchup. The victory took place ahead of the final against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul, who earlier eliminated Anadolu Efes Istanbul, setting up a highly anticipated clash in Istanbul.
Second Half Surge Overcomes Turk Telekom’s Early Lead
Despite trailing by eight points at halftime, Fenerbahce quickly reversed fortunes in the second half and sustained control until the game ended. Turk Telekom had a strong start but were unable to hold off the EuroLeague leaders’ comeback.
Talen Horton-Tucker Leads Fenerbahce’s Charge
Fenerbahce’s standout player was Talen Horton-Tucker, who recorded a season-high 29 points on an efficient shooting performance, including 6-of-9 from two-point range, a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 7 rebounds and 2 assists. This matched his previous career bests from prior games in both EuroLeague and Turkish league competitions.
Key Contributors on Both Sides
Supporting Horton-Tucker, Wade Baldwin added 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Mikael Jantunen and Onuralp Bitim each contributed valuable scoring and rebounds. For Turk Telekom, Jaleen Smith led with 12 points and 5 assists, while Marko Simonovic and Kyle Allman scored 11 points apiece.
Upcoming Final and Its Significance
The Turkish Cup final between Fenerbahce and Besiktas is scheduled for Sunday. This matchup is significant as it features two of Istanbul’s top teams battling for the prestigious national trophy, with Fenerbahce’s recent strong performances and Horton-Tucker’s impressive showing making them favorites going into the final.
