After a tense battle, Olympiacos has emerged victorious in the Euroleague Final Four, clinching the championship at home in Athens thirteen years after their last triumph. The team, led by a standout performance from Evan Fournier, who was named MVP of the Final Four, defeated Real Madrid in a hard-fought final. This victory marks Olympiacos’s fourth Euroleague title and their first since 2013.
Despite facing a formidable Real Madrid side, who were considered dangerous underdogs, Olympiacos managed to overcome the challenge. Real Madrid, weakened by injuries to key players like Usman Garuba, Walter Tavares, and Alex Len, put up a strong fight. Trey Lyles was a standout for Real Madrid, scoring 21 points in the first half. However, Olympiacos’s resilience and the exceptional play of Evan Fournier, who contributed 20 points and 4 assists, ultimately secured the win with a final score of 92-85.
French players Moustapha Fall and Frank Ntilikina also played crucial roles in Olympiacos’s victory. Notably, Olympiacos is the first team to win the Euroleague title after finishing the regular season in first place since the competition’s format changed to a league system.
A Tense Start at the OAKA
The atmosphere at the OAKA arena was electric from the outset, with an palpable tension. Early in the game, Real Madrid took an early lead, with Trey Lyles quickly scoring 10 points. Despite the hostile reception from the crowd, Real Madrid maintained their advantage for much of the first quarter, ending it with a lead of 17-26.
Fournier Ignites the Comeback
After a slow start from their starters, Olympiacos’s coach Georgios Bartzokas turned to his bench, and the strategy paid off. Players like Tyson Ward, Cory Joseph, and Alec Peters contributed significantly. Evan Fournier then stepped up, scoring six consecutive points to counter Sergio Llull’s efforts and completely shifting the momentum of the first half. Fournier’s aggressive drives and crucial three-pointers gave Olympiacos their first lead of the game, 38-36, in the 18th minute. Although Trey Lyles kept Real Madrid in contention, scoring 21 points by halftime, Olympiacos ended the half with a narrow 46-44 lead.
The second half began with a bang as Shaquille McKissic, who had not played in the first half, hit a three-pointer that sent the arena into a frenzy. However, Real Madrid quickly responded, with Alberto Abalde tying the game and then leading a run that gave them a two-possession lead, 54-60, in the 27th minute. Mario Hezonja and Théo Maledon were instrumental in keeping Real Madrid ahead as the game entered the final quarter, with the score at 61-65.
An Impressive Tug-of-War
The final quarter was a nail-biting affair. Evan Fournier and Théo Maledon traded three-pointers, keeping the score incredibly close, with the lead never exceeding one point for several minutes. Sasha Vezenkov and Fournier helped Olympiacos maintain a slim advantage, while Gabriel Deck kept Real Madrid within striking distance. The game was tied at 80-80 with two minutes left, thanks to a crucial basket from Mario Hezonja.
A Final Scare
A dunk from Tyrique Jones gave Olympiacos the lead again, 82-80, in the 39th minute. Free throws extended their advantage, and they appeared to seal the victory at 88-80 with 36 seconds remaining. However, Real Madrid mounted a late charge. Lyles scored, and a turnover followed by a foul allowed Real Madrid to close the gap to 88-83. A controversial sequence involving a missed free throw, a rebound, and a foul on Facundo Campazzo, who intentionally missed a free throw to get the ball back and set up Andres Feliz for a potential game-tying three-pointer, brought the score to 88-85. Feliz missed the shot, and Alec Peters secured the rebound for Olympiacos, forcing Real Madrid to foul. Peters calmly sank both free throws, securing the 92-85 victory and the Euroleague title for Olympiacos.
