It ended 91 to 79 in Istanbul, and the VTB Super Cup went home with Anadolu Efes after a game UNICS had been expected to win. The guests sat top of the table with two wins from two before kick-off, but by then the story had shifted. They came in with momentum, beating Zenit 78-73 on Thursday, yet found themselves on the wrong side of a result that matters more than any form guide.
What happened on the court told a simpler tale than the statistics might suggest. Anadolu Efes had just beaten Zenit 100-76 the day before, but this was a different sort of match — physical, direct, decided in moments rather than patterns. UNICS looked to play through their movement, but Efes made them work for every point, and when the pressure mounted, the visitors struggled to find rhythm.
There were no red cards, no dramatic interventions — just two teams trading blows across four quarters. Efes built their lead through efficiency in the paint and better decision-making under pressure. UNICS had their chances, particularly in transition, but converted fewer than their share. The difference came in the details: second-ball situations, defensive rotations, who took the harder shot and who took it better.
The table tells you where UNICS stood before this game — first place, unbeaten, two wins from two. What it doesn't show is that one match can change everything. They came expecting to add to their record, but instead found themselves watching from behind. Efes, meanwhile, moved into a position they hadn't held before in this competition, with a result built on application rather than flair.
It wasn't a comprehensive victory, but it was enough. The final margin of twelve points reflects a game where Efes controlled the moments that mattered. UNICS will look at the scoreboard and see only what they couldn't achieve, but those watching from the stands knew it was decided in the spaces between the plays — who wanted it more, and who took it further.
