Like a good wine, Damir Mrsic is getting better with age.

The veteran guard hit a game-high 23 points as Fenerbahce beat Istanbul rivals Besiktas 70-67 at the Abdi Ipecki arena on Tuesday to take a stranglehold on the best-of-three FIBA Europe League quarter-final series.

		Fenerbahce held Besiktas center Ratko Varda to a season low 4 points

Besiktas must now win Friday's second game to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

But this season's results suggest this could be a big ask. In five meetings between the two giants of Turkish basketball, Fenerbache have won four in 2004-2005.

Mrsic's match-winning performance, which included a 20-point final quarter, earned special praise from team-mate Marc Salyers.

"Damir was incredible. He's 34 now but he seems to be getting better, especially his shooting," Salyers told PA International.

"If he gets it off (his shot), it goes in."

Salyers said another key ingredient in Fenerbahce's win on Tuesday was the way they shut down Bosnia-Herzegovenia center Ratko Varda.

Varda, at 2.13m the tallest man on the court, has been averaging 18.8 ppg and 7.1rpg in Europe this season. Against Fenerbahce, the Besiktas big man nailed just four points.

"One of the main reasons why we won was because we stopped their inside game," said Salyers.

The Chicago-born power forward more than played his part with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

"I am extremely pleased with my performance. Getting 17 and 10 is always great but my percentages were also high," he said.

Khalid El-Amin top scored for Besiktas with 20 points and dished a game-high six assists.

"Going 1-0 up is a great feeling. There is a lot less pressure on us and more on Besiktas," said Salyers.

"Hopefully, we can close it out in two (on Friday)."