Fenerbahce defeated Pari Nizhny Novgorod in the Super Cup 3rd place game – 82:80 (24:17, 17:21, 20:23, 21:19).
Game progress
Already at the start, the Turkish team tried to confirm their status on the court. Not even five minutes later, Fenerbahce had a double-digit lead – 12:2. Nizhny Novgorod managed to stop it with substitutions. The bench players equalised the game, and the Volga team leaders, who made a comeback in the second quarter, took the initiative. At the end of the quarter, Pari NN could have equalise the score, but Dmitriy Khvostov missed three-pointer. As a result, Fenerbahce maintained their lead by the halftime, but the distance was only 3 points – 41:38.
Key moment
The entire second half was equal. In the middle of the third quarter, Andrey Vorontsevich and Glenn Causey helped to take the lead and led for a long time. But Fenerbahce players still got the momentum at the end of the game. Jonathan Motley became the hero for the Istanbul team. The center skillfully provoked opponents to commit fouls at crucial moments and showed coolness at the free-throw line. He made 5 out of 6.
But Mikhail Belenitskii made a three-pointer 12 seconds before the end, Nizhny tried to save the game – 78:80. But they didn’t have enough for more. In the remaining time, the teams traded offensive possessions (Yam Madar free-throws and Vladimir Ivlev three-pointer), and Fenerbahce kept the winning score.
Key factor
Jonathan Motley was the star of the game. The center scored important free-throws in the end, and also became the best scoring (22 points) and effective player of the game (23 points).
Fact
During the third quarter, Nizhny Novgorod managed to turn a -11 lead into a +5 lead. But this run was not a turning point. At the end of the game, Fenerbahce pulled out the win on the strength of class and experience.
Leaders
Fenerbahce: Jonathan Motley (22 + 5 rebounds), Marko Guduric (14), Nate Sestina (12), Yam Madar (11).
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Bryon Allen (19), Andrey Vorontsevich (12 + 5 rebounds), Mikhail Belenitskii (12 + 6 rebounds).
