If the opening two rounds in the EuroCup are anything to go by, Bahcesehir has every chance of being the surprise package of the season
Bahcesehir means business in this year's EuroCup
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 2 of 18
Group A
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Bahcesehir College Istanbul has made a flying start to the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season as it steamrolled to an 87-66 home win over its archrival Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul in Round 2, which came after its opening 69-80 victory at Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius.
The impressive start will surely get the club’s fans dreaming of glory as Bahcesehir returned to the EuroCup for the first time in four seasons. On Tuesday, its effervescent performance saw last season’s semifinalist Besiktas get picked apart at Sinan Erdem Dome.
The visitors were unable to keep up with Bahcesehir’s torrid pace from start to finish, as the hosts thoroughly outplayed their rivals in every department. Most of all in the paint, where an athletic Bahcesehir outfit grabbed 33 boards to 22 collected by Besiktas.
The home team was also clinical from downtown as it made 6-of-10 three-pointers, forcing low percentages from Besiktas which made 10 of 27. The visitors also struggled from inside, hitting a mere 13-of-27 shots against a steely Bahcesehir defense marshalled by former Besiktas forward Marko Simonovic.
The 24-year-old Montenegrin resembled a wall in his own paint in the opening three quarters and then took off in the fourth to haunt Besiktas offensively, scoring 12 of a team-high 14 points in the final 10 minutes.
Boasting several high-profile new recruits added to the roster during the offseason, Bahcesehir look well balanced and structured with the likes of Jaleen Smith and Mateusz Ponitka adding steel and experience acquired during their time in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, most recently at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.
Smith dismantled Besiktas with a flawless first-half performance in which he racked up 12 points and 4 assists, while Ponitka’s tireless work at both ends of the court made sure Bahcesehir kept going at full throttle right until the end, having led by as many as 27 points (81-54) in the closing stages.
Simonovic’s energetic display, illustrated by 6-of-9 shooting from the floor to go with 5 boards and 2 blocks, personified Bahcesehir’s selfless approach which saw six players score double figures. The forward made it clear in no uncertain terms after the game that although he was elated to claim bragging rights over his former teammates, Bahcesehir would be ill-advised to get carried away.
“Besiktas is a really tough team, I know that because I was there last season,” Simonovic said in a courtside interview. “I want to congratulate my teammates and the coaching staff for this incredible win, which means a lot to me and to all of us.
“It’s just the beginning, we have to build on this and keep working hard in order to make forward progress. It’s our second win in a row and the first one at home, so we’ll be focused on our next game and keep this intensity.”
Game Videos
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ratiopharm Ulm-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5d61e2dc-1a1b-4773-8357-f28d4601c66b.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a8f0cd49-22b9-4ef2-89f7-72bf9d4c59dc.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A74%3A47]()
Odiase hammers it home! Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/41ca59e5-314b-445c-b31f-3994f181ffd1.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A89]()
Terry's steal and dunk! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/eHEcrEBgRps/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Bahcesehir College Istanbul-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:35
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/05/u7aX9TCI0jWM2ZrObadAVE019dbhGoI6-1730843698351.jpg]()
Odiase slams it down! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/lTR8K9M21Fs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Trefl Sopot-Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/980c81f9-40b4-41b1-82a7-726e1e042fa7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A77%3A79]()
Smith assists, Simonovic slams! Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a96f69fb-b52a-4a48-a797-a2143de6c983.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A115%3A76]()
Fine dunk by Konan! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/be724baa-93ef-4749-8bb9-0560fbd5f258.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A120%3A47]()
Great alley-oop by Terry! Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/467e615e-a0d1-47c6-8677-ab428ef16c0b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A103%3A118]()
Ponitka drives for high-flying slam! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ccf835c5-e06d-4160-a9fe-5d139ef1af71.jpg?crop=1147%3A645%3Anowe%3A106%3A71]()
Sleva's steal and dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/79fd6273-0efb-411f-b00e-b9134a50b2a6.jpg]()
Bahcesehir College Istanbul-Trefl Sopot | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/99b25c07-25d4-4084-9880-dd51145b2c1c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A94%3A56]()
Odiase's big block! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/JMVZB8aRRsM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6ce91b2-f47c-4cd5-9e86-ccc59c4e2ffa.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A74%3A10]()
Martin to Terry alley-oop! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0eVGHOmE-Po/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8bac262e-9088-4d1d-85b8-2a72fb42796e.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A86%3A109]()
Hazer beats the buzzer! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/99b25c07-25d4-4084-9880-dd51145b2c1c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A59%3A44]()
Big swat by Odiase! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b6e4d1bf-4916-47de-be48-d1acedfa3e43.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul-Joventut Badalona | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6ce91b2-f47c-4cd5-9e86-ccc59c4e2ffa.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A88%3A1]()
What an alley-oop from Terry! Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bfe41553-71ca-4e31-a3a9-a5d11c1b14c7.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A42%3A45]()
Big dunk from Terry! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/KlI1XxRxB_Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Bahcesehir College Istanbul-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f1a15b7a-888c-43f7-966b-2f997775f72e.jpg?crop=590%3A332%3Anowe%3A476%3A21]()
Odiase gives Bahcesehir 100 points in style! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ebf1e19f-2546-40c8-b106-c0cfe2fd830a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A126%3A39]()
Odiase hammers it home! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/17fac900-fe26-4306-ad51-1afdc4da65d6.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul-ratiopharm Ulm | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bfe41553-71ca-4e31-a3a9-a5d11c1b14c7.jpg?crop=1219%3A686%3Anowe%3A9%3A20]()
Terry throws down on Ulm! Magic Moment
- 00:59
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/12/G5a4bCnF0MliUxtl2tn14Fpn23gUQ8US-1728715382666.jpg]()
Sasha Vezenkov & Neal Sako | RS Round 2 co-MVPs | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/10/qM2nq6lrAR4UnZDvyBldhKD4PpagykfM-1728591749398.jpg]()
Nando De Colo: 'Our hard work paid off'
- 03:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/10/zPGr8vSQwt24llSpgkb8DP12F86s83kH-1728594563362.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/10/YPhVhffWLpLRHImakBwoUx4jLGRTAl4Y-1728593790030.jpg]()
De Colo with the unreal assist! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4007e5a2-c551-43f6-91be-d5164d9be3c0.jpg?crop=1138%3A640%3Anowe%3A112%3A53]()
Sako game-saving block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f03798bd-7838-4cd8-b407-8cd0bfce9a42.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A123%3A123]()
De Colo with the unreal assist! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d0e0f7ea-6e40-431d-81b2-c8476b75d1e7.jpg]()
Classy Maledon hooks up with Sako! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bf71d1a9-de7d-4dc7-906a-60f2502758c7.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A95]()
Fancy pass from Maledon! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/abba7f95-003c-45ef-816c-05a7d4c9ea9c.jpg?crop=766%3A431%3Anowe%3A71%3A56]()
Lauvergne completes alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 03:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/neO9yjk2pVp8xn02MDGbD8heh6bz8DF1-1728510943007.jpg]()
Dreamland Gran Canaria-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:42
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/08/G80QyxGDewhBZqft4tpOpS3ezDRw0iNz-1728422241340.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3bd7f6b9-b1ee-47d3-a048-9ba9811900c3.jpg?crop=1335%3A751%3Anowe%3A0%3A68]()
Terry and Allman at it again! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6ce91b2-f47c-4cd5-9e86-ccc59c4e2ffa.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A71%3A19]()
Terry rocks the rim again! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/89552446-77cf-4c41-bc63-2c612ecd9de3.jpg?crop=1173%3A660%3Anowe%3A42%3A152]()
Terry rocks the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/57b0220e-332e-4fcb-b317-d60a41c5175d.jpg?crop=1209%3A681%3Anowe%3A6%3A73]()
Allman dunks with some aplomb! Magic Moment
- 03:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/01/zP6r23Kt6vWtm13UVtFAtUGFlUOoi6Io-1727806806488.jpg]()
Bahcesehir College Istanbul-Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a4538db7-1b34-4de3-83e3-9fb6fb8581c7.jpg?crop=1793%3A1009%3Anowe%3A30%3A17]()
Magic Moment: Emanuel Terry with another big dunk!
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4c093f5c-d4fd-473c-980c-d541777be617.jpg?crop=1179%3A663%3Anowe%3A41%3A141]()
Magic Moment: Smith with an audacious layup!
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6ce91b2-f47c-4cd5-9e86-ccc59c4e2ffa.jpg?crop=1231%3A693%3Anowe%3A68%3A10]()
Magic Moment: Emanuel Terry with a huge dunk!
- 03:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/26/aualxxEtwwkLdZgslfit6su5gPPYnwKV-1727370585445.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/25/3z30f72ue4qqeS0twm5Iws0zlt6Ps9ci-1727297061138.jpg]()
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6ce91b2-f47c-4cd5-9e86-ccc59c4e2ffa.jpg?crop=1350%3A759%3Anowe%3A0%3A22]()
Magic Moment: Emanuel Terry hammers it home!
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f314230e-42d3-448c-9cfd-cac1347fea55.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A152%3A68]()
Magic Moment: Smith & Odiase combine for a big alley-top dunk!
Bahcesehir head coach Dejan Radonjic echoed his compatriot’s words as he stressed that his players must keep their feet firmly on the ground. “Congrats to my players for both the win and the performance,” he said. “We were outstanding at both ends but our defense was the key throughout the 40 minutes. We need to start thinking about the next practice session and the next game immediately.”
Expectably, Besiktas head coach Dusan Alimpijevic was unhappy with his team’s effort, which came as quite a shock to most fans and pundits after a smooth 94-76 home win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in Round 1.
“Bachesehir absolutely deserved to win while we have to work on our mistakes because we did not leave a good impression with this kind of performance,” he said.
In Round 3, Bahcesehir faces a stern test of its newly found credentials with a visit to Dreamland Gran Caaria, the competition’s 2022-23 winner, while Besiktas has an equally tough task at home against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in another heavyweight clash.