Tenerife steals victory from galatasaray in fiba champions league thriller
A last-second miss sealed a nail-biting 84-83 victory for La Laguna Tenerife against Galatasaray on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the FIBA Champions League quarterfinals. What appeared to be a comfortable win for the hosts evaporated in the final five minutes, leaving fans breathless as the Turkish side mounted a furious comeback.
A dominant first half gives way to turkish intensity
Tenerife initially seized control, establishing a commanding 17-point lead with 15 minutes remaining. The early dominance was fueled by a second-unit surge led by Patty Mills, who ignited the offense and helped build an eleven-point advantage (21-10) early on. However, Galatasaray's defensive pressure intensified, slowly eroding Tenerife’s lead. Key players like Oncel, McCollum, and Meeks began to find their rhythm, narrowing the gap.
The turning point arrived late in the second quarter when Galatasaray unleashed a decisive 0-10 run, snatching the lead and heading into halftime with a narrow 38-41 advantage. It was a stark reminder that even comfortable cushions can vanish quickly in international competition.
Huertas returns, tenerife reasserts control – briefly
The third quarter saw Marcelinho Huertas return to the court, and Tenerife briefly regained their footing. Mills struggled to maintain the early momentum, prompting a tactical shift by Tenerife coach Txus Vidorreta, who brought in Fitipaldo and Jaime Fernández. The change provided a temporary boost, allowing Tenerife to steadily rebuild their lead, culminating in a 63-57 score at the end of the third.
But Galatasaray refused to fold. A quick 65-62 deficit became a distant memory as Meeks nailed a crucial three-pointer. Thomas Scrubb’s defensive prowess and Huertas’ renewed command seemed to secure a comfortable Tenerife victory – a 78-63 lead with five minutes to play. The scoreboard suggested a rout, but the game was far from over.
Cardiac finish: galatasaray's charge and huertas' exit
The final minutes were a frantic, seesaw battle. Tenerife faltered, committing costly turnovers while Galatasaray relentlessly chipped away at the lead. From an 80-63 advantage, Tenerife watched as Galatasaray clawed back to 84-69 with just three minutes left. McCollum and Palmer spearheaded the Turkish rally. Adding to the tension, Huertas was ejected after receiving his second technical foul, a controversial call for “flopping,” further disrupting Tenerife’s flow.
With seconds ticking away, McCollum scored seven consecutive points, bringing Galatasaray within a single point (84-80). A Tenerife turnover led to Robinson’s layup, narrowing the gap to 84-83. Tim Abromaitis was fouled, but missed both free throws. The final five seconds stretched into an eternity as Galatasaray’s last-ditch attempt rimmed out, securing a dramatic victory for Tenerife and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Final stats
La Laguna Tenerife (84): Huertas (12), Fernández (9), Scrubb (9), Doornekamp (2), Shermadini (14), Fitipaldo (6), Alderete (2), Guerra (5), Mills (20), Sastre (3), Abromaitis (2).
Galatasaray (83): Robinson (4), Palmer (16), Petrucelli, White (4), Gillespie (12), McCollum (17), Korkmaz (3), Meeks (16), Oncel (9), Yasar, Tuncer (2), Gorener.
Referees: Rosso (FRA), Salins (LAT), Marques (POR).
The victory, snatched from the jaws of defeat, underscores the unpredictable nature of Champions League basketball and leaves Galatasaray facing a must-win game in the return leg.