Third Quarter Decisive As Virtus Overcome Galatasaray

Virtus Bolognafiere trailed by eight points early in the second half but turned on the afterburners and blew out Galatasaray Café Crown in their EuroChallenge Top 16 clash.

The Italian club got a balanced scoring attack and terrific defense - especially in the third quarter - in a 104-91 Group J triumph in Istanbul.

Finland international Petteri Koponen and Sharrod Ford each had 17 points for Virtus, with Brazil national team sharpshooter and club captain Guilherme Giovannoni contributing 16.

The 1.65m point guard Earl Boykins finished with 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the winners.

Ntousan Tsalikis-Vouktsevits (11pts) , Brett Blizzard and Alex Righetti (both 10pts) also hit double figures in scoring for Virtus.

The Italians looked to be in trouble nearly two minutes into the second half after a Milan Gurovic basket put Gala on top at 60-52.

The home side then went ice cold over the next six minutes, with Virtus going on a 20-0 run to take command for good.

Roberto Chiacig's three-point play was followed by a Koponen basket to start the decisive spurt.

After Boykins' lay-up cut the deficit to 60-59, Righetti nailed a three-pointer to put Virtus in front for good.

Boykins and Righetti followed with baskets before Ford finished off the rampage with a pair of three-point plays.

Virtus pulled away for a decisive victory.

Hüseyin Besok had 27 points and Antonio Graves 25 for Galatasaray.

Quotes Galatasaray Café Crown vs. Virtus BolognaFiere

Koray Mincinozlu, Head Coach of Galatasaray Cafe Crown:

"I congratulate Virtus BolognaFiere. They have great players and a good system. We tried everthing but with the missing players this is almost the best we could do. Of course it was a bad start for us for the first game of the group which was a home game. I believe we will make up for this with the upcoming games. I would like to thank my players for their effort."

Huseyin Besok, Galatasaray Cafe Crown Player:

"Tonight we played against one of the best teams in EuroChallenge. We knew it wasn't going to be easy for us especially without four important players. We tried our best but we couldn't make it. We know we are a good team and we are going to show that in next games."

Matteo Boniciolli, Head Coach of Virtus Bologna Fiere: 

First of all congratulations to our opponent, we knew that they are missing important players. We have been missing important players too. I think that tonight we showed great physical shape and a great team mentality, pressing full court 40 minutes. I am particularly happy because it wasn't easy for my team, the energy of the team to believe we can win this game was given by our younger player Koponen who is improving day-by-day and who gave to the team an example of how to play this kind of game, with energy and enthusiasm. This was very important for us. And even it is more important to start European competition with an away win.