BSL Final Begins: Fenerbahce-Besiktas Derby

In the first match of the Turkish Basketball Super League 2025-26 season play-off final series, Fenerbahce Beko and Besiktas GAIN face each other at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall. The match will start at 20:00 local time on Saturday, June 13. The match will be officiated by the refereeing trio of Özlem Yalman, Alper Altuğ Köselerli and Can Mavisu. The team that reaches three wins will be the champion of the 2025-26 season.

The rivalry between the two teams constitutes one of the most rooted competitions of the basketball public. Fenerbahce Beko and Besiktas previously met in two finals and both times the Yellow-Navy Blues achieved the championship: 4-0 in the 2016-17 season and 4-1 in the 2024-25 season. This season, both Fenerbahce Beko and Besiktas GAIN completed the regular season with equal points of 25 wins and 5 losses. Fenerbahce Beko took the first place with average. Besiktas GAIN managed to make it to the final by defeating Bahçeşehir Koleji in the last match of the semi-final series.

Under Šarūnas Jasikevičius' management, Fenerbahce Beko comes to the final as a favourite with its trophy-lifting experience and squad depth. The Yellow-Navy Blue team, which also won the Turkish Cup final against Besiktas GAIN to win the first cup of this season, has a chance to realise the double cup dream. The fact that Khem Birch, last season's final series MVP, is in the squad strengthens the team's defensive wall. Wade Baldwin, Devon Hall and Tarik Biberović stand out among the impactful players.

Besiktas GAIN, on the other hand, comes to the final series with structural changes experienced this season. The Black-and-Whites managed to make it to the final with confidence after eliminating Bahçeşehir Koleji in the semi-final series. Besiktas GAIN's biggest goal in the final is to end the final defeats against Fenerbahce and achieve the championship they have been seeking for long years.

Informative statistics: Fenerbahce won five of the last six matches played between the two teams. Fenerbahce Beko completed four of the last five home matches with victory. The format of the series is as follows: the first two matches at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall (June 13 and 15), the third match on Wednesday, June 17 at the BJK Sports Complex in Akatlar. If necessary, the fourth match will be played on Friday, June 19 in Akatlar, and the fifth match on Sunday, June 21 at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall.

Image: turkiyegazetesi.com.tr