He enjoyed a starring role in an Efes win in Round 17
Ercan Osmani's hard work paid off against Partizan
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Regular Season
Round 17 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul completed a perfect double-round week with an 86-77 home victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, with Ercan Osmani continuing his impressive form by having a career-best performance.
Osmani started strong, getting 10 points in the opening 12 minutes. He stepped up big early in the third quarter with a three-pointer from the right wing and a huge one-handed slam. The 26-year-old, however, was just getting started.
He finished the game with a career-high 25 points, 10 more than his previous record against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on March 20, 2024. Osmani hit 6-of-7 two-pointers, 4-of-7 three-pointers and 1-of-2 free throws, adding 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 assists and 5 fouls drawn for a personal-best PIR of 29.
Partizan led 58-61 at the end of the third quarter behind an unstoppable Tyrique Jones, playing against Efes in Istanbul for the first time since leaving the club this past summer. Osmani had 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, playing a big role in his team's victory.
Rodrigue Beaubois was equally outstanding, scoring all 12 of his points in the final 10 minutes on 4 bombs from beyond the arc. Osmani and Beaubois combined for 22 of Efes's 28 fourth-quarter points, and the hosts' defense did the rest down the stretch.
After the game, Osmani felt nothing but thankful to everyone around him. He was the most talked-about player, too.
"I have to thank my teammates because they believe in me," Osmani told EuroLeague TV. "First of all, I have to thank them because if they were not here, I wouldn't do those [career-high numbers], so I am felling great because I have really great teammates and I am lucky about that. Of course, it is a double week and I am feeling tired, but I needed to play today. Tomi [Tomislav Mijatovic] believes in me, so thank you!"
"Tonight, Ercan Osmani had a career game and carried us in the fourth quarter, making big shot after big shot, rebounds, getting to the basket," Efes star guard Shane Larkin said. "We have that kind of talent in this team, it's not going to be the same guy every night but that's what makes us dangerous."
"We were fully aware of Ercan's potential. We are very fortunate and very lucky that he fits superbly in our team. He is following the lead, playing with the system and his individual potential, which is huge, comes to play," Coach Mijatovic said. "Today, he really carried us in his shoulders in some parts of the game but he was an important piece of the whole puzzle."