SPORTSLINE

Basketball

Big step for FenerFenerbahce took a long step towards the Final Four of the FIBA Europe Cup Women competition by winning its quarterfinal first leg against Nadezhda Orenburg 74-63 in Russia.  Korona Longin scored 23 points for Fener and Saziye Ivegin 21.  Marie Ferdinand added 13 plus 9 rebounds.  The second leg takes place in Istanbul next Thursday.One game weekend on TVATV is screening only one live game from the men's Turkish Basketball League this weekend instead of its usual two.  This is the all-Istanbul clash between Darussafaka and Galatasaray from the Ayhan Sahenk Sports Hall at 3.00 p.m. today.  Tomorrow's big derby meeting between Besiktas and Fenerbahce was also to have been broadcast but the game has been postponed because both teams were in FIBA Europe League action abroad as we went to press yesterday. VolleyballLeader comfortableMen's Turkish Volleyball League leader Erdemirspor won 25-17, 25-15, 25-16 at home to Manavgatspor in a previously postponed game played on Wednesday.  Also playing at home, the Besiktas women were even more comfortable in beating winless Anadolu Ihtisas 25-12, 25-10, 25-18.Besiktas-Halk Bank replayThe Turkish Volleyball Federation has ordered a replay of the men's league game between Besiktas and Halk Bank which was abandoned earlier this week.  The referees called the game to a halt with the score at one set all when Halk Bank coach Mustafa Cayir refused to leave the court after being shown a red card.  The Federation has referred coach Cayir to its Discipline Committee.  No date for the replay has yet been set.SoccerCommittee to hear former refereesThe parliamentary committee which is investigating match fixing and illegal bonus payments, including recent charges against national team coach Ersun Yanal, decided at a Thursday meeting that it will hear the views of former referees Erman Toroglu, Ahmet Cakar, Ali Aydin, Serdar Cakman and Sadik Ilhan next Tuesday.  In view of public disquiet over the matter, the committee, chaired by Ankara lawmaker Haluk Ipek, announced that it will in future meet twice a week instead of once and will consider a third weekly meeting if this becomes necessary.Under-17s' Czech mateTurkey Under-17 won a second friendly against the Czech Republic 5 - 3 at the Bornova Stadium, Izmir.  The home goals came from Murat Duruer, Ozgurcan, Caner, Samet Gul and Tevfik Kose.  Turkey won the previous meeting between the two teams 3-0.

Angry Mayor

Greater Izmir Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu reacted angrily to recent claims by local soccer clubs that they are in difficulties because they have received no financial assistance from his Municipality.  After pointing out that the Municipality did provide clubs with some aid at the start of the season, Mayor Kocaoglu continued, "The people who are doing this cannot stand up against me.  They cannot demand money by uttering threats in the press.  I have no business with these people.  Why should I have?  Am I supposed to say 'well done, come and see me'?  They should be aware of who and what office they are attacking."

Athletics

Dengersa fourth in Madrid

Turkey's Ethiopian-born runner Tezeta Dengersa finished fourth in the women's 1500 meters at an IAAF Permit meet in Madrid in a time of 4.10.98.  The race was won by Romania's Elena Iagar in 4.06.52.

Motor Sports

Off-Road in Sile

The first leg of the Turkish Off-Road Championship takes place in the Sile district of Istanbul tomorrow.  The competition, over a course running from the village of Karakiraz to Sahilkoy, begins at 10.00 a.m. and 36 entries have been received.