TBL: Galatasaray goes up 3-0 on Banvit

Galatasary’s Jamont Gordon goes up for a lay-up during their TBL finals game against Banvit on Monday.

Galatasaray Medical Park moved to one win away from their first title in the Turkish Basketball League (TBL) since 1990 with a come-from-behind, 71:72, road win against Banvit, on Monday. Not only did Galatasaray need to come from 10-points back during the fourth quarter, they also needed a three-pointer with five seconds left to play to pull out the Game 3 victory.

Carlos Arroyo was top-man for the Medical Park with 15 points, while Charles Davis was game-high with 18 points for Banvit.

The hosts took control of Game 3 early, building a 24:12 lead at the end of the initial 10.

Banvit picked up where they left off, picking up an early three-ball to extend their lead to 15 as the second frame opened. The clubs battled throughout the second 10 exchanging baskets, but Galatasary was not able to cut the margin during the quarter, allowing Banvit to take a 12-point lead into the mid-game break, 38:26.

The guests fell farther behind as the third period got under way, with Banvit going on a 7:2 run to get up 45:28. Galatasary was able to cut the lead during the back end of the third, outscoring their hosts 7:15 to pull to within nine, 52:43, as they set up for the final 10.

Banvit was able to hold on to an eight-point lead (61:53) through the first seven minutes. Shortly after, with the score 66:58, the visitors went on a 2:7 run to pull within three with a minute to play. Arroyo put Galatasaray down one, 69:70, with a long-ball, and Serkan Erdogan split a pair of free throws to add to the slim margin with 14 seconds to play. The contest came down to a shot with five seconds to play by Ender Arsian off an Arroyo dish after drawing the defense to him in the paint. The triple put the guests up by one, 71:72, but gave Banvit time for a final shot. İzzet Türkyilmaz got a jumper off as time expired, but he came up short, giving Galatasaray a 3-0 series lead, with Game 4 schedule for Wednesday.

Arroyo’s 15 led the guests, with Arsian added 12, and Manuchar Markoishvill dropping in 10.

Davis was game-high with 18 points and 5 assists, Samuel Meia scored 14 point and grabbed 7 rebounds, Erdogan scored 11, and Keith Simmons contributed 10.