Anadolu Efes Istanbul saw their 2026 Club Friendship campaign end on the wrong side of a tight scoreline, falling 77-75 to a determined Esenler Erokspor side on Friday night. The match, played at 21:30 local time, offered both teams a serious competitive workout long before the start of their respective domestic seasons.

Erokspor edge a tense contest

Efes carried the greater name recognition and much of the pre-game attention, but Esenler Erokspor refused to play the role of passive underdog. From the opening quarter, the visitors matched the tempo of the more celebrated Istanbul giants, moving the ball crisply and attacking the mismatch inside before Efes could settle into a defensive rhythm.

Anadolu Efes had their own bright moments, with the guards finding open looks and the team running the floor well in transition. Still, Erokspor maintained a disciplined defensive structure and stayed ahead at the most important moments of the second half. Every time Efes threatened to level the game, Erokspor answered with a timely basket or a defensive stop, preserving their slender lead deep into the fourth quarter.

Key moments in the final minutes

The closing stretch was as tense as the 75-77 final score suggests. Efes forced the game to within one possession in the last minute, and a late defensive stop gave them a chance to tie or win. Yet Erokspor’s final defensive stand held firm, and in the end it was the visitors who walked away with the memorable road victory.

For a Club Friendship fixture, the intensity was notably high. The physicality and urgency suggested that both coaching staffs used the game as a final tune-up, evaluating rotations and late-game execution under meaningful pressure.

Standout performers and takeaways

Esenler Erokspor’s balanced scoring and composed finishing were the defining features of their win. Rather than relying on a single superstar, they shared the workload on offense and made the decisive plays when the margin was tight.

Anadolu Efes, meanwhile, will likely look back at missed opportunities in the middle quarters. Their inability to convert defensive stops into easy baskets proved costly against a side that rarely lost its discipline. Still, head coach Ivan Keros will have plenty of useful information to carry into future preparation, particularly around lineup combinations and perimeter shooting in the half court.

What this means for both teams

• For Esenler Erokspor: A confidence-boosting result against high-level opposition, proof that they can compete with strong teams in pressure situations.
• For Anadolu Efes Istanbul: A wake-up call in a friendly setting, highlighting areas that still need sharpening before things get serious.

Ultimately, this 77-75 thriller was more than just a scoreline. It provided a useful measuring stick for both clubs in the 2026 calendar, and for Erokspor, it was a night to remember.