Dreamland Gran Canaria announced on Sunday that it has acquired playmaker Ziga Samar from ALBA Berlin for the remainder of the season

Gran Canaria loans Ziga Samar from ALBA Berlin

Dreamland Gran Canaria announced on Sunday that it has acquired playmaker [Ziga Samar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ziga-samar/profile/007550/) for the remainder of the season. Samar (1.97 meters, 24 years old) arrives on loan from ALBA Berlin for which he averaged 4.1 points and 2.9 assists over 14 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season. He is 10th in the EuroLeague this season in per-minute assists with a prorated average of 8.4 over 40 minutes. Gran Canaria made the move following the news that [Carlos Alocen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-alocen-out-for-the-season/) was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Samar returns to Spain, where he has spent most of his professional career. The tall point guard began his career with the Olimpija Ljubljana youth system in his native Slovenia and was just 16 years when he signed with Real Madrid. Samar also played professionally for Baloncesto Zambrano and Fuenlabrada, He joined ALBA in 2022 on a long-term deal and was loaned to Veolia Towers Hamburg in that first season, during which he also played in the EuroCup. Samar is also a member of the Slovenian national team.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🖊 Žiga Samar refuerza al Dreamland Gran Canaria hasta final de temporada.<br><br>▪ El base esloveno, formado en el Real Madrid, llega en calidad de cedido por el Alba Berlín hasta el término del presente curso.<br><br>➡  <a href="https://t.co/K2TKJrCmEA">https://t.co/K2TKJrCmEA</a> <a href="https://t.co/bBsIhYkj3T">pic.twitter.com/bBsIhYkj3T</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1883583491797102968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The playmaker will reinforce the Granca backcourt for the remainder of the season

We always knew that Friday’s meeting between Olympiacos BC and Fenerbahce Beko – first against second – would be something special, and it was Fenerbahce that came out on top to move within a win of first-placed Olympiacos.

Defensive discipline and ball movement helped Fenerbahce stay red hot

We always knew that Friday’s meeting between [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) – first against second – would be something special, particularly as both teams headed into the game in great form: Olympiacos on the back of seven straight wins, and Fenerbahce looking to make it five consecutive victories.

And when the scoring started with [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) draining a triple before [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) sank a mid-range strike at the other end, it looked like the stars were coming out to play for a scoring showdown.

However, that opening flurry from two of the league’s leading MVP candidates proved to be a false dawn, because this was a Rivalry Series battle played at a slow pace and dominated by defenses. And specifically, Fenerbahce’s.

The Turkish team powered its way to victory, becoming only the second visiting team to win in Piraeus this season, by smothering the Reds with a stifling blanket that held the hosts to their second-lowest points tally at home, and a scoring total more than 10 points below their season average.

Faced by Fenerbahce’s organization, discipline and hustle, the home team particularly struggled to attack the interior, making just 16 of its 38 attempts (42.1%) from inside the arc – well down on its season average of 56.3% from two-point range. Notably, the Reds converted far more free throws (30) than field goals (21), with Fenerbahce repeatedly refusing to allow the home team to find its offensive rhythm and instead forcing the Reds to the foul line.

Only two Olympiacos players could score in double digits, with [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) netting 21 points and Sasha Vezenkov 19, and even they had to make much of their contribution from the line, respectively scoring 7 and 8 free throws.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Ülkemizin ve camiamızın başı sağ olsun. <a href="https://t.co/WWjxRLJO1J">pic.twitter.com/WWjxRLJO1J</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1882866208841798051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Visiting guard [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/) confirmed that was all part of the plan, explaining in his postgame interview with EuroLeague TV: “Our defense was about making them take tough shots. They missed some open ones, so we got lucky with that. It’s not an easy place to play, so it feels good to be able to come here and get a win.”

Fenerbahce also outmatched Olympiacos’s strong physicality by holding the home team to just 6 offensive boards, while grabbing 9 at the other end through six different players, and winning the overall rebounding battle 36 to 27.

And on the offensive, the Turkish team delivered consistent productivity to register solid shooting stats of 21 of 32 from two-point range (65.6%) and 11 of 32 from deep (34.4%). Coach [Saras Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/jasikevicius-saras/) was particularly pleased with the ball movement that led to 21 assists and made many of those conversions possible.

Game News

“It’s not easy to play over here,” he said. “Olympiacos doesn’t really let you play your own basketball, but I thought for some moments we were there.

“When we move the ball, when we don’t hold the ball, we are putting up good offensive numbers and creating shots. For these moments we were great. It’s not easy, they have great physicality, they’re ready defensively, so it’s a big win. We have to be proud and happy."

Proud, happy, and rising rapidly towards the top of the standings.

The Turkish team delivered a strong all-round game to down Olympiacos

Olympiacos Piraeus v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-01-24T19:15:00.000Z)

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Look back at all the action from Round 23 of the regular season by checking out the best photos of the week!

Top 10 photos of the week: Round 23

A stunning offensive performance in the German derby was enough for FC Bayern Munich’s Carsen Edwards to secure Round 23 MVP honors with a round-high 34 PIR.

Round 23 MVP: Carsen Edwards, FC Bayern Munich

A stunning offensive performance in the German derby was enough for FC Bayern Munich’s [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) to secure Round 23 MVP honors with a round-high 34 PIR.

 

Edwards scored a career-high 34 points in Bayern’s 84-99 win at ALBA Berlin, netting 6-of-9 two-pointers, 5-of-13 three-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws. He also posted 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls drawn, giving him a career-best 34 PIR. This is the first time Edwards has been the MVP of the Round, while it is the second time this season a Bayern player has earned MVP of the Round honors – and 11th time all-time – following Shabazz Napier back in Round 6.

 

Real Madrid’s [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne’s [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) had the joint second-best PIR in Round 23 with 29. In Real Madrid’s dramatic 90-89 victory over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Argentine amassed 22 points, going 6 for 9 on two-pointers, 1 for 4 on threes and 7 for 7 on free throws, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 6 fouls drawn. ASVEL beat FC Barcelona 100-94, with Maledon recording 18 points on 2-of-6 two-pointers, 2-of-7 three-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 9 fouls drawn. AS Monaco’s [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade’s [Isaac Bonga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaac-bonga/006760/) round out the list of top performers with a 28 PIR. James had 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 12 fouls drawn in Monaco’s 80-86 win at Virtus Segafredo Bologna, while Bonga finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 3 fouls drawn in Partizan’s 92-86 triumph over Paris Basketball.

 

### Individual highs: Carsen Edwards, Bayern, 34 points

 

Bayern’s Edwards scored 34 points in Round 23, the most of any player. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens’s [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) leads the league in scoring with 20.1 points per game.

 

Baskonia’s [Nikos Rogkavopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikolaos-rogkavopoulos/011085/) led all players in Round 23 by pulling down 11 rebounds. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade’s [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) has averaged a league-best 8.0 rebounds per contest this season.

 

ASVEL’s Theo Maledon and Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s [PJ Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/perry-dozier-jr/012742/) both recorded a round-high 9 assists. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv’s [Tamir Blatt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tamir-blatt/011193/) (7.41 apg.) is the leading assist provider in the league, narrowly ahead of Paris’s [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) (7.38 apg.).

 

Maccabi’s [Jaylen Hoard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaylen-hoard/006835/) made 4 steals in Round 23, more than anyone else. Bayern’s [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) tops the steals charts with 1.6 per night.

 

Three players – Panathinaikos’s [Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/), Real Madrid’s [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/), and Monaco’s [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) – had a round-best 3 blocks. Papagiannis (1.35 bpg.) leads the EuroLeague in blocks, just ahead of Tavares (1.30 bpg.), Gabriel (1.27 bpg.), and Efes’s [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) (1.26 bpg.).

 

Baskonia duo Rogkavopoulos (22 points, 11 rebounds) and [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) (14 points, 10 rebounds) were the only players to record a double-double in Round 23.

The Bayern guard had a career-best scoring night in the German derby

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 23rd winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Filip Matejevic beat everyone else in Round 23 with his team 'Nitogen BC', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 234.70.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 23 winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 23rd winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Filip Matejevic beat everyone else in Round 23 with his team 'Nitogen BC', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 234.70.

Filip had the following starting lineup: Facundo Campazzo of Real Madrid as team captain, then LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne's Theo Maledon, Olympiacos Piraeus's Sasha Vezenkov, and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens duo Juancho Hernangomez and Wenyen Gabriel. His sixth man was FC Bayern Munich's Carsen Edwards. On the bench, Filip had Bayern's Niels Giffey, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade's Sterling Brown, Paris Basketball's Enzo Shahrvin, and Real Madrid's Eli Ndiaye. His team's head coach was Bayern play-caller Gordie Herbert.

The prize for finishing first in Round 23 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Filip!

Marko Dukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 3,935.84 points.

Trades are now open for Round 24.  Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. You can either trade up to four players, or a head coach and three players.

The first game in Round 24 tips off on Thursday, January 30, as Zalgiris Kaunas hosts FC Bayern Munich at 19:00 CET. That game marks the next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner!

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager. 

Real Madrid Baloncesto has completed the signing of Bruno Fernando, who joins the club after spending six years in the NBA.

Bruno Fernando signs for Real Madrid

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) has completed the signing of Bruno Fernando on a deal until the end of the 2025-26 season. He is *Los Blancos*' second addition in recent weeks, following [the arrival of Dennis Smith Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-baloncesto-signs-ex-nba-guard-dennis-smith-jr/) on January 16. 

Fernando (2.06 meters, 26 years old) has spent his entire career in the NBA to date, most recently averaging 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game across 17 appearances this season for the Toronto Raptors.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">📸👕🏀 <br>👋 <a href="https://twitter.com/BrunoFernandoMV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrunoFernandoMV</a> <a href="https://t.co/K49WhsaEdn">pic.twitter.com/K49WhsaEdn</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1882907172503175671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Angolan big man, who posted 14.0 points, 5.3 boards and 1.5 assists in four games at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, has played for the Atlanta Hawks (2019-21), Boston Celtics (2021-22), Houston Rockets (2022-23), Atlanta Hawks (2023-24), and Toronto (2024-25) in his 226-game NBA career.

Fernando adds more depth at center for Real Madrid, which has three-time EuroLeague Best Defender [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) and 2019 NBA champion [Serge Ibaka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/serge-ibaka/003583/) among its options at the '5'.

More Real Madrid News

The six-year NBA center is coming to the EuroLeague for the first time

Carsen Edwards could hardly believe the final score when he was told it after FC Bayern Munich’s hard-fought victory at ALBA Berlin – a game in which he and Andreas Obst shined offensively for a shortened rotation late in the game. 

Edwards, Obst shined as Bayern’s double-edged sword in German derby 

[Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) could hardly believe the final score when he was told it after [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/)’s hard-fought [victory at ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/edwards-obst-combine-for-55-in-bayerns-84-99-win-at-alba/) – a game in which he and [Andreas Obst](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andreas-obst/004508/) shined offensively for a shortened rotation late in the game. 

“Was it 15 points? Playing against them, it never feels like that. It felt like a three-point game the way they can get up and down,” Edwards said following Bayern’s 84-99 win in the German capital. 

“When they get momentum, they can make shots. It’s good for us to get a win. Any win means a lot. We’re just happy to get the win and everybody come out healthy.”

Edwards ended up playing 34 minutes and poured in a career-high 34 points, including 5 three-pointers. He also picked up 6 rebounds and 6 assists for a career-best PIR of 34. 

“He told us before the game he was tired. He didn’t play tired,” Bayern head coach [Gordie Herbert](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/herbert-gordon/) said afterward about Edwards. 

"We played him the whole second half. We shortened the rotation. Guys really fought through it. And he made some huge plays. I think his overall game was better tonight. Obviously he scored points and made plays, but his defense was good. He was engaged, he was intense. He really did a good job on \[ALBA’s Matt\] Thomas. We challenged him by putting him on Thomas. And I thought he responded well.”

Helping out carrying the offense was Obst, who knocked down 6-of-7 three-pointers for 21 points.  

“Obst shot the ball well and Edwards made some big plays. It’s a double-edged sword when those two are going,” Herbert said. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Euroleague</a> career high, great all around game and the W. Nice night for <a href="https://twitter.com/Cboogie_3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cboogie_3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BERBAY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BERBAY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BoilerBall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoilerBall</a> <a href="https://t.co/0G0uftypcY">pic.twitter.com/0G0uftypcY</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1882906903891546573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The difference in the game was the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, as Bayern started the final frame with a 4-18 run. [Niels Giffey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/niels-giffey/001557/) had two three-pointers, Obst hit once from deep, and Edwards poured in 9 points. 

“It was a back and forth game for 30 minutes. We started well, they responded. But we had a great response in the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter,” Coach Herbert said. 

The victory was very important for Bayern, which improved to 13-10 after having lost four of its last five games. Bayern also grabbed its 10th win in 11 EuroLeague games against ALBA.

“In a season like this, tough stretches are completely normal. You just have to find a way out of the tough stretch. We need to stay together, we need to work hard and look ahead,” said Obst. 

Thanks to Obst and Edwards, Bayern can at least head back home with their heads held high. 

Shortened rotation carried Bayern past ALBA in thriller

ALBA Berlin v FC Bayern Munich (2025-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL grabbed a 100-94 victory to end FC Barcelona’s four-game winning streak in style, with as many as six players netted at least 12 points: Theo Maledon led the way (18), and Andre Roberson (17), Paris Lee (14), Neal Sako (14), Tarik Black (13) and Nando De Colo (12) followed suit. 

ASVEL played with 'heart more than brain' to power past Barcelona

Tactics may be crucial to outsmart opponents, but energy and determination can definitely win you games. When these three elements are paired with pure talent, they may well lead to triumphs against basketball powerhouses. 

That is precisely what [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/) managed to achieve on Friday night, when [Pierric Poupet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/poupet-pierric/)'s men netted as many as 100 points against one of the most in-form teams in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

ASVEL grabbed [a 100-94 victory to end FC Barcelona’s four-game winning streak](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/theo-maledon-leads-the-way-as-asvel-downs-barcelona-100-94/) in style. As many as six players netted at least 12 points, with [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) leading the way (18), and [Andre Roberson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andre-roberson/013405/) (17), [Paris Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/paris-lee/011225/) (14), [Neal Sako](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/neal-sako/010545/) (14), [Tarik Black](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-black/008991/) (13) and [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) (12) following suit. 

A mix of talent and experience, combined with the energy provided by each of the 12 players who stepped on the floor, inspired a big home victory.

“We had 12 players \[available\], so it’s easier to give 100% in a short time; everybody can bring a lot of energy and get those big wins,” Sako told EuroLeague TV after the game.

ASVEL bettered Barcelona in all crucial statistical categories, showing hustle on both ends and playing exemplary team basketball at times. The hosts outrebounded the guests 30-26, while they also recorded more offensive boards (12-8), assists (25-22), steals (8-6) and blocks (3-1).

They may have given up 94 points, but Coach Poupet was proud of what he saw. 

“Of course we made mistakes, but I asked \[the players\] before the game to play with passion and heart more than brain, and this is exactly what they did,” he said in a courtside interview with EuroLeague TV.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another night, another big performance. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LDLCASVEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LDLCASVEL</a> <a href="https://t.co/E2ZALwrSMU">pic.twitter.com/E2ZALwrSMU</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1882921124532724086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This was the first time this season that ASVEL reached the 100-point mark in a game, with Maledon’s numbers perfectly encapsulating the team’s near-perfect performance. The ASVEL guard paired his 18 points with 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 6 fouls drawn and no turnovers in almost 28 minutes on the court.

Having recorded two straight wins, ASVEL will now look to build on its momentum with a potential victory against Paris Basketball next week. To achieve that, they need to maintain the same approach, as playing with “heart and energy” is what usually makes the difference in a derby.

The hosts reached the 100-point mark for the first time this season

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v FC Barcelona (2025-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko's win at Olympiacos BC confirmed that Marko Guduric is in arguably the best form of his long and illustrious EuroLeague career.

Marko Guduric’s sweet form continued for firing Fenerbahce

[Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) is on the march, moving within one win of first place – and with a game in hand – by taking a fifth consecutive victory in [a 77-87 battle over league leader Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-stands-strong-to-down-olympiacos-77-87/) on Friday night.

And although this particular success was more about collective strength than individual brilliance, it did confirm that [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) is in arguably the best form of his long and illustrious EuroLeague career.

The veteran swingman led his team by netting 21 points with impressive efficiency, making all 5 of his two-point attempts, shooting 2 of 4 from beyond the arc and converting 5 of his 6 free throws. He also dished 4 assists and grabbed 3 rebounds for a game-high PIR of 25, spending more than 26 minutes on the floor.

And that was nothing new, because Guduric has been consistently excellent throughout his team’s surge towards the top of the standings. 

He has scored in double digits in six straight games, averaging 16.2 points, and is also orchestrating the offense with an average of 4.5 assists during that timespan. Add in his ability to draw fouls and get to the foul line, his dogged defense and a team-first ethic, and it’s easy to claim that Guduric, right now, is the most important player for the hottest team in the competition.

It wasn’t always that way. The 29-year-old, now in his ninth season in the competition and with 269 EuroLeague appearances under his belt, suffered a slow start to the campaign. He particularly struggled during a three-game stretch in December, recording averages of just 4.0 points and a 1.3 PIR from a tough run of games against Real Madrid, AS Monaco and FC Barcelona.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ro" dir="ltr">Olympiacos maçının MVP’si Marko Guduric<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bug%C3%BCndenYar%C4%B1naHaz%C4%B1r?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BugündenYarınaHazır</a> <a href="https://t.co/G1zTB5RNVg">pic.twitter.com/G1zTB5RNVg</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1882902739208044926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

But he showed great resilience to rediscover his best form, and is now clearly a man on a mission. Even after Friday’s win he didn’t let the mask slip. 

Shrugging off Jasikevicius’s joking suggestion that he could enjoy a celebratory beer rather than a rehydrating water without even raising a smile, Guduric stayed in game-face mode: “It was not easy. Game of the season, \[against the\] best team in EuroLeague right now, but I think we did a pretty good job defensively. Our intensity was there and I’m happy we won the game.”

And Fener fans are just as happy to see their key backcourt presence prolonging his hot streak.

The swingman has become a key player for Saras Jasikevicius