Fener Set To Complete Clean Sweep Of Polish Minnow PGE

Turkish champion Fenerbahçe Ülker entertains Polish minnow PGE Turow Zgorzelec in week seven of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Group C at İstanbul's Ülker Sports Arena on Thursday, hoping to complete a clean sweep of the cellar-dwelling Poles.

The İstanbul side scored a resounding 91-76 victory on the road over PGE Turow at Centrum Sportowe when the two teams first met earlier in the season.

In other Group C games, Greek outfit Panathinaikos Athens will be hosting Bayern Munich of Germany on Friday, while undisputed leader Barcelona will be slugging it out at home with Italy's EA7 Emporio Armani Milano.

Fenerbahçe Ülker (4-2) is equal on points with Greek Panathinaikos Athens, both sides trailing undefeated Spanish powerhouse Barcelona (6-0). EA7 Emporio Armani (2-4) is fourth, while Bayern and PGE (1-5) are the weakest links in the group.

Judging from the standings, Zeljko Obradovic's men are expected to be too strong for the hapless Poles. Fener improved to 4-2 after posting an 80-74 win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milano a week ago today. Fenerbahçe held off a late rally by the Milanese side to win that game on the back of 14 points by guard Ricky Hickman and 12 from center Semih Erden.

Fenerbahçe is therefore brimming with confidence going into Thursday's encounter. Barring a miracle, a resounding victory for Fenerbahçe in front of its home fans on Thursday is an almost foregone conclusion because there is a great gulf in quality between the host and the visiting Poles.

Fener boasts several shooting stars in its lineup. Apart from Hickman and Erden, there is American shooting guard Andrew Darius Goudelock, who was the Euro Cup MVP last season. If these players and others can find their form, then PGE Turow faces a very long night indeed on Thursday. The match starts at 8:15 p.m.

Two İstanbul teams will be in action on Friday, with Anadolu Efes welcoming Sardinia-based Italian side Dinamo Sassari to İstanbul and Galatasaray Liv Hospital facing Valencia in Spain.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)