19 September, 2017
06 May, 2018
17 D.j. Kennedy (TUR)
16/01/2018
Game Report
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Pinar Karsiyaka steal victory from Unet Holon


HOLON (Basketball Champions League) - Pinar Karsiyaka stole a 95-93 victory over Unet Holon on Tuesday night.

The Turkish team remained their course for the knock-out stages with the win after an impressive comeback to improve to 7-4.

Having trailed by as many as 20 in the third quarter, an improbable 25-6 run bridging the third and fourth period, saw the visitors storm back into the contest, taking their first lead of the game a minute into the fourth quarter.

Nineteen points each from Dominic Waters and Jarrod Jones led Karsiyaka, whilst DJ Kennedy had an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Karsiyaka play-caller Aleksandar Trifunovic said:

"It was a really strange game. We lose control in the very early phase of the game, at the end of the first half we managed to get a little control but the reaction at the last possession, was showing we were down with concentration again.

"Same way we opened the second half, but with a couple of changes, changes of defence, we played a smarter game defensively, and offensively we were better focused and better reactions.

"...This game means a step ahead for us to the next round. Congratulations to my players, not for the smartest game, but for showing the attitude we have missed in the last couple of games in the second half and I hope it will be a little better for us in the future."

Karsiyaka overcame a 30 point outing from Glen Rice Jr, who was dominant all night long, as Holon fell to 3-8 in Group A.


"Tough loss for us," Holon Head Coach Dan Shamir said.

"We managed to play well, build a lead, but maybe something in my rotation stopped our flow. We got into this close game and we didn't play well in the crucial moments with the pressure and when the game was on the line."

A high-octane first half, saw both teams combine for 31 assists, and shooting high percentages. Unet Holon controlled the first two periods, leading by as many as 16 before a second quarter fightback from Karsiyaka.

At halftime Holon were up 55-48 following a Corey Walden buzzer-beating lay-up that caught Karsiyaka sleeping.

A 9-0 run to start the second half for Holon took things from bad to worse for Karsiyaka.

Glen Rice Jr took his personal tally to 21 points and gave Holon their biggest lead of the game at 68-50 just three minutes into the second half. A big dunk from Joe Alexander followed, and the lead was at 20, with no respite in sight for the home side.

However, an inspired Dominic Waters led his side back, scoring 12 points over the next six minutes as Pinar Karsiyaka fought their way back into the game.

A tough three from Metin Turen to beat the third quarter buzzer pulled Karsiyaka back within 3, 74-71, before Marko Banic started the fourth quarter hot to give the visitors their first lead of the game, from where they would manage to keep their cool down the stretch and hold on for the win.