Fenerbahce decisively overcame Spar Girona with a 76-59 victory, advancing to their fourth EuroLeague final in five seasons. After a slow start, the Turkish team found its offensive rhythm before halftime. A decisive 16-5 run established a double-digit lead that they maintained throughout the remainder of the game, keeping Girona at bay.
Emma Meesseman contributed significantly with 14 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds. For the French players, Gabby Williams scored 13 points with an evaluation of 17, and Iliana Rupert added 12 points with an evaluation of 14.
American star Breanna Stewart had a subdued performance, scoring just 3 points on 1-of-5 shooting.
In the other semi-final, Marine Johannès was the leading scorer with 16 points, including 4 three-pointers, and 4 assists. Galatasaray, after controlling most of the game, managed to withstand a comeback attempt from Casademont Zaragoza, boosted by their home crowd, to secure a 63-56 win.
For the Spanish team, Merritt Hempe recorded 18 points and 8 rebounds. Carla Leite was the second-highest scorer with 12 points, but shot inefficiently at 3-of-11. Aminata Gueye (7 points) and Ornella Bankole (2 points on 1-of-6 shooting) were less impactful than in their previous semi-final against Basket Landes.
“I am happy, and we are proud of the team,” said Marine Johannès. “It was a difficult game, especially in front of their supporters. We started well, but the opposing team reacted. We had to stay focused, and we can be proud. We have excellent cohesion.”
The final is scheduled for Sunday at 8 PM and will be available to watch on FIBA’s YouTube channel.
