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Inspired Marinkovic finally flourished on the big stage
Article
3 Mins read
Vanja Marinkovic has always been one of those familiar role players producing back-row contributions for club and country, but on Friday he stole the show with the performance of a lifetime as Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz mauled Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 92-69 at home in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Marinkovic finished the game with a triple career high of 35 points, 6 three-pointers made and a performance index rating of 29, carrying his team to a lifeline win that left the Spanish side in contention to snatch a playoff berth.
The 26-year old from Belgrade, who joined Baskonia from Spanish league rivals Valencia in 2021, usually comes off the bench. This time, he made the most of a rare opportunity as a starter, firing his team into an early lead on the back of 8 points in the first quarter.
Baskonia struggled in the second quarter and early in the third as it fell behind 42-51 before Marinkovic ignited the rip-roaring comeback with 23 second-half points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.
Most of those long-range efforts were contested, with defenders in his face, but the Serbian showed a vast array of talents in what was surely the most impressive performance of his career. Having also sank 6 of 9 shots from two-point territory, Marinkovic buried all 5 of his free throws and drew praise from Baskonia head coach Joan Penarroya as well as his teammate Rokas Giedraitis.
"Vanja had an amazing game," said Penarroya, while Marinkovic himself made it clear in a post-game interview just how much he enjoyed himself.
"It's a really big win for us. We played an amazing second half, we showed up and changed our mindset," he said. "That's how we need to play. I really enjoyed it. I am happy for my performance but above all I am happy for the win."
Asked what was the key to Baskonia’s victory, Giedraitis said: "Vanja. He made it an amazing party. In the second half, it was also our energy and the rebounds, we stopped their offense."
Fenerbahce was short-handed but it is difficult to explain how the visitors fell apart so easily after Baskonia had swung the momentum, as the Turkish team's backcourt got swept away by the opposition.
It happened despite a limited contribution by Baskonia's influential point guard Markus Howard, who picked up a knock late in the first quarter and endured a third successive tough night, shooting 0 of 9 from the floor with all of his 5 points coming from the foul line.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/p9QCpDvgzAQ/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:38
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/9Z6ymh3lK3wjnREsMeHTbdZoDqSU1dBG-1734470302799.jpg]()
Chima Moneke: 'This is our best win of the season'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/K3myS2EETAk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/25b1692c-1ee1-4898-b9a8-4f7678238fb8.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A41]()
Donta Hall makes creative bucket! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9784b387-7c1e-4d89-b6a0-645268f0b32d.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/70d0a86d-5502-4469-8b4d-ca4b50a1ffee.jpg?crop=1214%3A683%3Anowe%3A71%3A57]()
Hall rises for spectacular swat! Motorola Magic Moment,
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/OfHCSqoHz70/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-AS Monaco | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7b61257e-b9ee-44d2-91d4-46d0e1c150a4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A80]()
Hall says give me that! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2e402ee9-b80f-4c6b-aa5c-bcb91474e254.jpg?crop=4000%3A2250%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Bonzie Colson brings his skills to the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/UX9S9s5euN2NMqwbcOrPWUlWoksy6hB7-1733440995839.jpg]()
Devin Booker: 'We had the energy from the fans'
- 01:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/KFH1qP9NFofQhKbBMS4Aa8WkNtDZr72G-1733440760265.jpg]()
Nigel Hayes-Davis: 'I learned a valuable lesson'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cbc6f4e4-5b4f-4a8e-b1dc-416b50232a07.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56086f0e-5438-4076-a0b9-096cfdfc1188.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e15de13e-16b4-4fa2-895c-04103cd4ba9d.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A58%3A56]()
Moneke with the chasedown block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/WvXGw8ofWhVeuxuDuOizrJKmOQtAs1wM-1733265775070.jpg]()
Donta Hall: 'We had to bring our hard hats too'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/7s7XqipWcA4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ba3efbd7-73a4-4682-9022-bdcb7785f8e6.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A100]()
Moneke sends Hall flying for alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/46cf6979-c73f-4f79-bf4c-62999b88fc83.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A119]()
Donta Hall swats it away! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fd25e0fc-2355-4a22-9506-622a65137aed.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92049d76-cbaf-455a-9562-a9286baa0b81.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/LLAQ-3xQlsE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/36a069ae-4edb-4377-bc01-c95ef7cf690e.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A80%3A144]()
Moneke’s block on Milutinov! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ea535f1b-c431-4020-82b6-877fb4f8579f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A38]()
Forrest rejects Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9hK0SFuRquE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/20/acjN4NgdXh6GzxD3gpUvain5LMdr0on4-1732141420504.jpg]()
Marko Guduric: 'I don’t know how we pulled this one out'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/s-yVNftwng0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/anyqw83FrIREeIaSsPODvPD5n6jBFnU9-1731702533577.jpg]()
Marko Guduric: 'Since 2019, we hadn't won here!'
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/045bfcd0-d6f4-4532-a244-be6510268371.jpg?crop=701%3A395%3Anowe%3A0%3A47]()
Colson stops Mitchell! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/09b2f098-2936-48a4-9d2a-6e8d66374eb5.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A125%3A40]()
Zagars's acrobatic layup! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/HvSCwENkNT4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz–AS Monaco | RS Round 10 highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a72d06d3-59f3-4238-993e-aa432c4af93c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A0%3A40]()
Moneke throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31b1b3bf-f957-4bae-9fac-d4480dd4fdfc.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:25
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/j3ccOkzQyBrinzSMWQcrC9HMXhEQb3W1-1731443574096.jpg]()
Nigel Hayes-Davis: 'His negativity is what fuels me'
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/173f3bb5-7fc7-4bb6-98a6-87f4d7ff22f3.jpg]()
Howard with the sweet dish! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/bKu2tX_sBVc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-FC Bayern Munich| RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:07
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/aJBOkbLeRqexHJoeccFW09ihk1NfpVkN-1731106475074.jpg]()
Saras Jasikevicius: 'We have a great group of guys'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d57e6268-cfec-409c-b4fe-b7e564ca5a29.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/WUp1NWm2hxU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c3c58d61-e07c-4621-a147-83806e881bb7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A95%3A57]()
Moneke's huge alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/34dd9bee-ee9b-420c-b1d2-5dcec67fa32a.jpg?crop=810%3A456%3Anowe%3A40%3A0]()
Hall stops Nunez! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/43f9b422-5463-4c6d-b108-7f6c2a023fe4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A41]()
Hall's alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b1e3930a-5498-4a09-8246-59932dd74673.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/01/FKSYBkWcbGThRhk4uVQRN3vAxA52jWFo-1730498549730.jpg]()
Hall rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d93cfe99-59a9-4720-8d13-03f4cc6f626c.jpg?crop=1179%3A663%3Anowe%3A65%3A39]()
Jaramaz denies Lo! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zCbK-dBI8zI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:40
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/01/3tQ1yDjFInebhskfuM5bgiyclybBPC01-1730494080286.jpg]()
Nigel Hayes-Davis: ‘We have to be consistent on both ends, starting with me’
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bbe0afd1-8ea1-4ba6-82a8-49bfda0c8eec.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A51%3A65]()
What a dunk by Donta Hall! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40043d1f-a1ff-4026-9f10-9edebe01c62a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A97%3A80]()
Showtime basketball by Fenerbahce! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/CEYiNxJwu9I/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b0ad83cf-78af-4183-9e7b-a436a7ab908f.jpg?crop=1536%3A864%3Anowe%3A192%3A108]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Apart from Marinkovic's heroics, the ever-reliable trio of Darius Thompson, Daulton Hommes and Giedraitis combined for 37 points, while towering center Maik Kotsar did his bit with 8 points and 6 rebounds.
As Penarroya pointed out, ironclad defense was the key to Baskonia's comeback, as the hosts contained Fenerbahce with aggressive half-court pressure that limited the visitors to just 25 points in the second half.
"A big game and a great opponent," said the coach. "We improved our defense in the second half and after we were 11 points down, the famous Baskonia character came to the fore. I am proud of the players and the fans. We'll enjoy the victory tonight and then we'll look forward to the upcoming games."