Fenerbahce edges out Monaco 81-70 to win 2nd title after 8 years
Turkish basketball team Fenerbahce Beko won their second Turkish Airlines Euroleague title after beating AS Monaco 81-70.
Despite a slow start on both ends, Fenerbahce conceded the first quarter 20-18 to Monaco. Fenerbahce stepped up its defensive pressure in the second quarter, holding Monaco to just 13 points while recovering in the second quarter to win the first half 35-33.
The second half of the game began fiercely contested, with Monaco briefly regaining the lead, but Fenerbahce led 54-51 entering the final quarter.
In the final quarter, Fenerbahce defended tenaciously against Monaco's offense. Fenerbahce's defense paid off, as they finished with a comfortable lead of 81-70.
Nigel Hayes-Davis led the Yellow Canaries with 23 points and nine rebounds, earning a 30 performance index rating. The American forward was also named the Final Four's Most Valuable Player.
Marko Guduric added 19 points and six rebounds, including a crucial 3-pointer with 1:05 remaining to seal the victory.
On the French side, Alpha Diallo finished with 19 points, while Mike James, who was recently named to the All-EuroLeague 25th Anniversary Team, had 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
This is the second Euroleague title for Fenerbahce after they were the first Turkish team to win the title in 2017.
