A disappointing performance by CEZ Basketball Nymburk saw the defending Czech champions start the second phase of the EuroCup with a loss to Fenerbahce on Tuesday, a result which has left director Rudolf Simecek smarting.

Nymburk lost 92-84 in Istanbul following another scintillating performance from Damir Mrsic, who had 23 points for Fener.

The Turkish team did not take control of the contest until the final two minutes.

"A loss like this worries me a lot," Simecek said.

"We had a big chance to win today. The most important moment which decided the winner of this game was a lay-up of (Goran) Savanovic's two minutes before the end - he missed it."

Indeed, Savanovic was off target with 1:55 to play and Fener punished them by burying a three-pointer at the other end for a 85-82 lead.

They would add five more points to their total fo a 90-82 advantage with 37 seconds remaining and by that time, it was too late for Nymburk.

Despite the crucial miss by Savanovic, Simecek felt the overall performance was encouraging.

"We played good today - including Savanovic and it is not possible to find fault with that lay-up, for sure," he said on www.basket.idnes.cz.

"We wanted to make something of this game in last minute but we were very down - mostly mentally."