Anadolu Efes deny Olimpia Milan spot in playoffs

By Fatih Erel</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Italy's AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan missed its last chance to qualify for the playoffs after losing to Turkey's Anadolu Efes 101-95 Thursday in the final round of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular basketball season.</p> <p>Anadolu Efes’ top scorer was Vasilice Micic with 18 points.</p> <p>The Turkish side maintained fourth place in the standings. Barcelona Lassa secured fifth place and will face Anadolu Efes in the best-of-five playoffs. </p> <p>The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular basketball season will wrap up Friday.</p> <p>Turkey's Fenerbahce Beko, who were last season’s finalists, top the league and are set for the playoffs.</p> <p>Before the final matches, Fenerbahce Beko, Anadolu Efes, Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow and Barcelona Lassa had already qualified.</p> <p>In the final round of matches, Baskonia, Panathinaikos, Zalgiris, AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan, Maccabi FOX and Olympiakos will compete for playoff spots.</p> <p>Sixteen teams are competing in the league — four Spanish, three Turkish, two teams from Russia and Greece each, and one team each from Germany, Italy, Israel, Lithuania and Montenegro.</p> <p>Turkey is represented by Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahce Beko and Darussafaka Tekfen. Two of the Turkish teams will compete in the EuroLeague playoffs.</p> <p>The regular season is being played from Oct. 11, 2018 to April 5, 2019 with the top eight advancing to the playoffs to be held April 16-30.</p> <p>Winners will advance to the Final Four between May 17-19 at Fernando Buesa Arena in the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in single elimination matchups.