Larkin Show Silences Ankara: Anadolu Efes Beat Türk Telekom 70-77 to Sweep Series 2-0 and Advance to Semifinals

Anadolu Efes gave Türk Telekom no way out in the second match of the Turkey Sigorta Basketball Super League playoff quarter-final series, winning 70-77 on the road and advancing to the semifinals by making the series 2-0. In the critical match played at 18:00 at Ankara Sports Hall on Friday evening May 29, the Istanbul team broke down the host capital representative particularly with their performance in the second and third quarters.

Although the first quarter closed at a balanced tempo with the host's 17-16 lead, Anadolu Efes won the second period 21-14 to go to the locker room with a four-point lead. The third quarter also ended in Efes's favor (24-23), and although the final period ended 16-16 even, Türk Telekom could not find the window to close the accumulated gap.

The star of the match was once again Shane Larkin. Anadolu Efes's creator directed his team with 20 points and 4 assists in his 29-minute spell; he shouldered the bulk of playmaking, rhythm-shifting, and offensive responsibility. On the Türk Telekom front, Jordan Smith was the resisting name with 18 points while Marko Simonović filled a balanced line with 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists — yet the host, hitting only 46 percent on 61 shot attempts, lost particularly the under-the-basket battle against an opponent more efficient at 47 percent. The 29-to-37 gap on the rebound line formed the mathematical foundation of the visiting team's double-digit final score.

Anadolu Efes, which defeated Türk Telekom 86-75 in the first match at Istanbul's Turkcell Basketball Development Centre, swept the series with this second victory. The third match held in reserve for Sunday May 31 will not be played as it is not needed in the three-match format quarter-final tie. With this result, the capital representative's season has also ended.

Anadolu Efes, under Igor Kokoškov's management, will face the winner of the Fenerbahçe Beko - Safiport Erokspor series in the semifinals. For Türk Telekom under head coach Erdem Can, failing to carry the regular season momentum to the playoff stage was a bittersweet disappointment. The match was officiated by the trio of Ünal S., Şahin M., and Koyici D.; broadcast was handled by beIN Sports 5. The semifinal format will be "best-of-five"; since two wins will not be enough, Efes's semifinal journey will be a marathon far longer than the Ankara night.