Sarunas Jasikevicius was voted as the 2005 Final Four MVP after leading Maccabi Tel Aviv to 90-78 win over Tau Ceramica in the championship game in the Olympiyski Arena, Moscow, as Maccabi became the first team to win consecutive EuroLeague titles since 1991.
2005 Final Four MVP: Sarunas Jasikevicius, Maccabi
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As the first man to win three consecutive Euroleague titles in more than a decade, Jasikevicius proved that few players are so decisive in big games. "Saras" first weaved a masterpiece, stepping up when the going got tough for Maccabi in the semifinal win against Panathinaikos Athens. He scored most of his 13 points in the second half and added 8 assists to help Maccabi advance. Then, in the championship game, a day after making the All-Euroleague team, Jasikevicius outdid himself. His unforgotteble perfomance of 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists against Tau Ceramica made Jasikevicius the overwhelming choice for MVP and assured his place among Europe's all-time greatest players.
"We never had full control," Jasikevicius said after winning the title. "Tau was such an excellent basketball team. They kept coming at us. A couple of times we thought we had control, but as soon as we thought that, they hit a couple threes to get back in it. They're an excellent team and deserve congratulations for an excellent season. But listen, yellow is still in fashion in European basketball."
In winning his third EuroLeague title, Jasikevicius also becomes the second Lithuanian player to win the Final Four MVP award, joining Arvydas Sabonis who was voted as the MVP in 1995.