Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of devastating injures this season, Galatasaray Liv Hospital moved into a tie for Group F's last playoffs spot when it held of FC Bayern Munich for a 76-69 victory before 10,000 adoring fans in Istanbul on Friday. The victory forged a three-way tie for fourth place with Munich and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, all with 5-6 records and three games left in the Top 16. Among the three, however, Galatasaray enjoys a tie-break advantage due to its two victories over Munich and one over Lokomotiv.
Carlos Arroyo masterminded Friday's win by scoring 16 points and dishing 11 assists, a Galatasaray club record in the Euroleague. Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Malik Hairston followed with 14 points each for the winners, who made 23 of 37 two-point shots, or 62%. Munich got 16 points from last week's MVP, guard Malcolm Delany, 12 and 7 rebounds from John Bryant, 10 and 6, respectively, from Yassin Idbihi.
