Basketball Champions League: Galatasaray Forces Game 3 Against La Laguna Tenerife After Dramatic Finish (64-62)

ISTANBUL — Galatasaray MCT Technic defeated La Laguna Tenerife 64-62 in the Basketball Champions League quarterfinals, tying the series and forcing a decisive Game 3 that will determine the ticket to the BCL Final Four. The Turkish side held on in a dramatic finish where Marcelinho Huertas and Patty Mills had the last chances to tie the game.

The start of the game was marked by balance and strong defensive work from both teams. Galatasaray tried to impose a physical pace against La Laguna Tenerife, while the Canary Islands team sought solutions in the paint with Giorgi Shermadini and from the perimeter. Neither team managed to break the equilibrium during the first half.

Before halftime, Galatasaray MCT Technic secured a slight advantage that allowed them to head into the break with a 30-27 lead in this Basketball Champions League matchup. The Turkish team found important points through John Meeks, while James Palmer and Jerome Robinson provided offensive balance.

The game opened up somewhat after the break. Galatasaray elevated its offensive level and managed to reach a 10-point advantage (61-51) with five minutes remaining, a lead that seemed to bring the Turkish side closer to victory in this second game of the BCL series.

But La Laguna Tenerife responded in the final stretch. The Canary Islands team tightened its defense and managed to cut the deficit, bringing the game to a completely open finish. Despite struggles from three-point range—making just 5 three-pointers on 24 attempts—the Spanish team remained alive until the final seconds.

In the closing moments, La Laguna Tenerife had two chances to tie the game. First, Marcelinho Huertas missed the shot that would have tied the score at 64, and on the final possession Patty Mills also took a shot, but the attempt came after time had expired.

On an individual level, John Meeks was Galatasaray's most decisive player with 17 points, plus several key plays in the crucial moments, including crucial offensive rebounds. James Palmer and Jerome Robinson each contributed 10 points for the Turkish side.

For La Laguna Tenerife, Giorgi Shermadini finished with 12 points, while Patty Mills added 11 in a game that was extremely demanding from a defensive standpoint.

With this result in the Basketball Champions League, Galatasaray keeps its options alive and forces a Game 3 in the series, where it will be definitively decided which team advances to the BCL Final Four.