Jasikevičius Critiques Fenerbahçe‘s Near Collapse in Maccabi Tel aviv Victory
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – November 12, 2025 – Fenerbahçe Istanbul narrowly escaped a late-game collapse, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 68-67 in a EuroLeague contest marked by a stark performance disparity, according too head coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius. Despite building a commanding 55-35 lead in the third quarter, Fenerbahçe faltered, briefly trailing in the fourth before securing the win.
The victory, secured on November 12, 2025, at 21:00 local time, is crucial for Fenerbahçe as they navigate a season integrating numerous new players into the demanding landscape of European basketball. Jasikevičius emphasized the team’s ongoing adjustment period, anticipating continued growth through January or February 2026. This match underscores the challenges of blending talent and establishing consistent performance in the EuroLeague, where even significant leads are vulnerable.
“We played very well for the first 25 minutes, reflecting the standards of Fenerbahçe basketball on the court,” Jasikevičius stated post-game. “Then, in the next 10 minutes, we suddenly fell apart.It was terrible. We allowed Maccabi too many easy opportunities to score. We were awful in the fight for rebounds and defending fast breaks. We cannot play like that.”
Jasikevičius also acknowledged the impact of key player absences. Scottie Wilbekinas remains sidelined with an injury, while Artūras Žagaras has recently returned to the lineup after a period of unavailability. Žagaras, possibly a third point guard option, brings valuable system understanding to the team.
“I don’t think any team at this stage of the season can play perfect basketball for 40 minutes,” Jasikevičius added. “We have many new players, and they are learning European basketball. we must be patient.”
Fenerbahçe’s next EuroLeague fixture is scheduled for november 16,2025,against Bayern Munich,offering an immediate opportunity to demonstrate the improvements Jasikevičius seeks. The coach expressed gratitude for the strong support from fans, noting the exceptional atmosphere despite playing outside of Turkey.
