DOMESTIC LEAGUES

EuroChallenge MVP Pops Mensah-Bonsu finished the first encounter of the Turkish Finals with a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds

EuroChallenge winners Besiktas Milangaz moved closer to a dream treble after winning the first game of their Turkish league (Beko Basketbol Ligi) play-off finals showdown at Anadolu Efes on Tuesday night.

Ergin Ataman's team, which has also won the Turkish Cup this season, started strong against Efes and never turned back, prevailing 82-75.

Pops Mensah-Bonsu, the MVP of the EuroChallenge Final Four, had a game-high 18 points for Besiktas while Carlos Arroyo continued his recent resurgence after a slow start to the campaign by nailing three of four shots from the arc en route to 15 points.

Arroyo also had six assists and four rebounds.

"We wanted to control the game from the time we ran onto the court," Ataman said.

"We established the best defense at the beginning."

Efes did cause some problems with their full-court pressure but Besiktas held on for an important win.

"Anadolu Efes is a team that is better on defense, while the offense has some shortcomings," Ataman said.

Besiktas have been playing like a runaway train in the play-offs.

They knocked off two sides, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray Medical Park, that competed in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and are now going for a hat-trick against Efes.

Thursday's Game 2 will also be hosted by Efes.