Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward Nigel Hayes-Davis played 2 games for Team USA at Etihad Arena last summer throughout its preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris

Nigel Hayes-Davis is hoping for a happy return to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is a new and unfamiliar venue for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, with the 2025 Final Four helping to expose the continent’s elite basketball competition to a wider audience by heading away from European shores for the first time.

One player, however, does have some prior experience from the Etihad Arena, because [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) forward [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) appeared at the venue in two international games last year.

Although he didn’t make the final roster, Hayes-Davis was with Team USA throughout its preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris, including showcase meetings with Serbia and France last July.

With superstars such as LeBron James, Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum taking most of the court time, Hayes-Davis had little opportunity to shine as he played for just 3 minutes across the two encounters. But it was still an understandably memorable experience, which he fondly remembered in the immediate aftermath of Fenerbahce’s [series-clinching overtime win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-advances-to-final-four-with-ot-win-at-paris-88-98/) over [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/) on Tuesday.

“It’s a beautiful full circle,” he told EuroLeague TV. “I’ve already been there in that gym, got two wins in that gym, so hopefully I can repeat that \[at the Final Four\]. That would be a beautiful thing.”

Nigel Hayes-Davis highlights vs. Paris Basketball

Hayes-Davis performed to his usual high standards in Game 3 on Tuesday, contributing 18 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal for a game-high PIR of 24. But this Fenerbahce team is built on collective cohesion rather than individual brilliance, and he was eager to underline the team ethic as he said: “The team stepped up, a lot of guys stepped up in a lot of ways, that maybe didn’t play all year. Like [Dyshawn \[Pierre\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dyshawn-pierre/010560/) stepped up with great, huge minutes for us.

“Now we get some rest and look forward to get ready to go to Abu Dhabi and try to finish the job. Very happy for the guys, some guys haven’t been to the Final Four, so I’m happy they get to experience it because it’s a tremendous experience.”

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">MVP MVP MVP! 🔥 <br><br>👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/NIGEL_HAYES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NIGEL_HAYES</a>! 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bug%C3%BCndenYar%C4%B1naHaz%C4%B1r?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BugündenYarınaHazır</a> <a href="https://t.co/5om4mZl30D">pic.twitter.com/5om4mZl30D</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1917350608438452505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Victorious coach Saras Jasikevicius, who was dumped, fully suited, into the bath as his players - led by Hayes-Davis - enjoyed their postgame celebrations in the locker room, believes his team’s progress is well deserved as a reward for their recent performances – but warns that more must follow.

“I have to take off hats to my players,” Jasikevicius noted. “The last couple of months, we’ve been playing good basketball, our level of concentration and basketball went up. This is the most important and that will give us more chances of winning the whole thing.

“Everybody knows how difficult it is, how many good teams will be in Abu Dhabi. So tonight is a party, but next day we’re back to work because we need to keep getting better. Final Four is another level up, and another level up you’ve got to play better.”

With a 6-2 finish to the regular season and a playoff sweep of dangerous Paris, this Fenerbahce team is clearly heading in the right direction. Whether that will take them all the way to the summit, we’ll find out soon.

Game News

The Fenerbahce forward played in the UAE last summer for Team USA

Paris Basketball v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-04-29T18:30:00.000Z)

The five-man unit of Sergio Llull, Alberto Abalde, Andres Feliz, Usman Garuba and Serge Ibaka helped swing the momentum in Real Madrid's favor in Game 3 against Olympiacos BC.

Real Madrid’s second unit shifted the momentum in fourth quarter of Game 3

The playoffs are a marathon in which roster depth plays an important role. Coming off the bench, players aim to provide their team with an injection of energy and hustle that could prove crucial in the game. And that’s precisely what [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/)’s second unit managed in the second half [against Olympiacos Piraeus in Game 3 on Tuesday night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-beats-olympiacos-80-72-in-game-3-to-trim-series-deficit/).

The guests went on a 2-13 run to end the first half, taking a 38-44 lead into the second. [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) managed to tie it at 56-56 from the line with 1 minute remaining, which is when Chus Mateo’s rotation turned the tide for the hosts.

[Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) netted a bucket for a 58-56 lead after 30 minutes and despite [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) tying things up with a floater early in the fourth quarter, *Los Blancos* went on a 9-2 run that served as a blow to Olympiacos’s morale. Real Madrid’s five on the floor throughout that surge consisted of Llull, [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/), [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andres-feliz/011247/), [Usman Garuba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/usman-garuba/007630/) and [Serge Ibaka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/serge-ibaka/003583/), all of whom chipped in on both ends to secure a 67-60 cushion.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">¡FORZAMOS EL 4⃣º! <a href="https://t.co/Spk2dcqrOz">pic.twitter.com/Spk2dcqrOz</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1917324257618428397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A three-point play by Garuba was followed by steals from Llull and the former, before Ibaka nailed a basket. Feliz missed a triple, but Ibaka collected the offensive rebound, with Garuba adding 2 more points to his tally for a 65-60 cushion. Then, a steal from Feliz led to an Abalde bucket that gave *Los Blancos* a seven-point advantage. Sasha Vezenkov responded from inside, but Abalde hit a triple and Ibaka connected again to make it 72-62.

“They know that we need to play as a team and someone can score, another player can rebound, another can play defense,” Coach Mateo told EuroLeague TV after the game. “We need to use the players that we need at any moment. Garuba played great defense in the fourth quarter, Andres managed the team very well, Sergio Llull put pressure on the ball. Alberto Abalde made a great game, too, and Serge Ibaka, of course. It’s very important for us to recognize that we are not only four or three players. We are a team.”

After the game, Georgios Bartzokas praised his Real Madrid counterpart for the trick with the second unit that allowed the hosts to gain momentum.

“It was obvious that \[Real Madrid’s second unit\] would put lots of pressure, taking advantage of the crowd, the atmosphere,” Bartzokas said in the post-game press conference. “They played really physically defending the ball, creating a game with a lot of contact. So, it was a good and smart decision by Coach Chus.”

[Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/), [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) may have combined for 42 of Real Madrid’s 80 points in Game 3, but it was the second unit that stepped up when it mattered most. Should they do that in Game 4 as well, *Los Blancos* can take the series back to Piraeus and put even more pressure on the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season leader.

Coach Mateo’s rotation turned the tide for Los Blancos

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-04-29T19:00:00.000Z)

Tarik Biberovic came to the fore in overtime as Fenerbahce Beko defeated Paris Basketball in overtime in Game 3 to secure its place at the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four.

Tarik Biberovic rode his luck to send Fenerbahce to Abu Dhabi

[Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/)’s progress to the Final Four was anything but easy, as [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) pushed the Turkish titan to overtime with a gutsy performance in its first-ever home playoff game.

Indeed, when [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) scored the last two baskets of regulation to make it 80-80 and force that additional period, it was tempting to think that Paris had grabbed all the momentum and would be able to ride the wave to a memorable victory.

[Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) had other ideas.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">💛💙🤳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/JY20pHxMQK">pic.twitter.com/JY20pHxMQK</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1917337329817079808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Fenerbahce swingman changed the course of the action by scoring the first 7 points of overtime in a memorable and ultimately decisive passage of play.

First, Biberovic netted his fifth three-pointer of the evening, followed by a smoothly dispatched baseline jumper. And to complete the hat-trick, he took advantage of a bizarre moment which totally deflated the home team. A Paris possession ended with Shorts trying to find [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) but, with wires crossed, the pass was heading out of bounds until it hit a referee on the sideline and bounced straight to Biberovic, who had an open route to the rim for an uncontested layup.

It was a surreal and rarely-seen moment, but entirely within the laws of the game as the referee counts as part of the playing surface, and credit must go to Biberovic for being quick-witted enough not to hesitate, heading straight to the basket to make the most of his fluky fortune.

Even without that strange score, Biberovic’s contribution was highly significant as he finished with a team-high 21 points, also underlining his all-round game by delivering 3 assists and snaring 3 steals.

Reflecting on his game-changing overtime flurry, Biberovic told EuroLeague TV: “To be honest, I was really exhausted! But overtime is all about mental toughness and we prepared for this.

“We worked hard for this moment and every single player is dreaming about this moment. I’m very thankful to have that opportunity and seal the game in this way, but basically it’s a team effort. We played really great basketball throughout the series, we didn’t give up when they were coming at us in Game 3 and this is the reason we’re going to the Final Four now.”

And even if he might have benefitted from a little bit of fortune along the way on Tuesday, there’s no doubt that Biberovic will be a major weapon for Fenerbahce in Abu Dhabi next month.

The Fenerbahce shooter netted five three-pointers… and a memorable fluke


Real Madrid made it 2-1 in its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series against Olympiacos Piraeus by defeating the Reds 80-72 in Game 3 at Movistar Arena on Tuesday night. 

Real Madrid beats Olympiacos, 80-72, in Game 3 to trim series deficit

Real Madrid made it 2-1 in its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series against Olympiacos Piraeus by defeating the Reds 80-72 in Game 3 at Movistar Arena on Tuesday night. 

A 0-13 run allowed the visitors to take a 38-44 lead into the third quarter, but *Los Blancos* held Olympiacos to just 28 points in the second half and grabbed a hard-fought victory.

Walter Tavares netted a team-high 15 points, with Dzanan Musa and Mario Hezonja scoring 14 each. Sasha Vezenkov led all scorers with 21 points, Nigel Williams-Goss netted 17 and Saben Lee added 11.

Game Videos

Facundo Campazzo and Musa connected from deep before 6 more points from the latter gave Real Madrid a 14-8 lead. Williams-Goss responded with his second triple of the night, but Tavares’s third straight dunk at the other end restored an 18-13 cushion. Then, Hezonja and Musa drilled a three apiece, with Andres Feliz netting back-to-back baskets for a 28-21 lead after 10 minutes.

Sergio Llull opened the second quarter with an off-balanced jumper, but Olympiacos answered with a 0-10 surge fueled by Lee and Williams-Goss, who put the visitors one point ahead, 30-31. Real Madrid went on a 6-0 run, but Olympiacos responded with a 0-13 spurt as back-to-back slams from Moses Wright allowed the Reds to take a 38-44 lead into the second half.

Musa opened the third with a layup in transition before buckets from Tavares and Hezonja tied it at 46-46. Vezenkov took over with 5 straight points that restored a 47-51 cushion. Yet, Hezonja drilled a corner triple and Llull netted a signature midrange jumper that put Real Madrid back in front, 58-56, heading into the closing quarter.

Luca Vildoza netted a floater, but Real Madrid replied with a 9-2 run inspired by Usman Garuba for a 67-60 lead. Alberto Abalde drilled a triple before an Ibaka jumper gave the hosts a 72-62 lead with 4:30 left on the clock. Vezenkov completed a four-point play before draining one from downtown to make it a two-possession game. Then, Lee made 2 of 2 from the line, but Campazzo netted 6 points in a row to finish the game off.

The hosts’ defense held the Reds to just 28 points in the second half

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul sealed its progress to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four by overcoming Paris Basketball, 88-98, in an overtime battle to complete a series sweep.

Fenerbahce advances to Final Four with OT win at Paris, 88-98

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul sealed its progress to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four by overcoming Paris Basketball, 88-98, in an overtime battle to complete a series sweep.

A back-and-forth first half ended with Fenerbahce leading, 40-46. The second half was even closer, and concluded with TJ Shorts scoring the last 4 points of regulation to force overtime. But Tarik Biberovic netted the first 7 points of the extra period, and Fener didn’t look back. 

Paris was inevitably led by Shorts with a joint career-high 29 points, while Nadir Hifi scored 24. Biberovic powered Fener with 21 points, Nigel Hayes-Davis added 18 and Marko Guduric scored 14.

Inside buckets from Devon Hall and Tyson Ward got the scoreboard moving in an otherwise slow-scoring start. Shorts and Hayes-Davis traded blows, and Shorts added a triple for a 9-4 lead. Jilson Bango’s tip-in was answered by Maodo Lo’s layup, and Hifi’s triple protected Paris’s lead. But Fener roared back with three straight triples through Hayes-Davis, Errick McCollum and Biberovic to lead 18-19 at the end of the first.

Kevarrius Hayes and Bonzie Colson exchanged inside baskets early in the second, before Ward and Shorts gave Paris a 25-24 edge. Bango’s close-range finish and Guduric’s three-ball restored the Fener’s lead, and McCollum’s layup made it 25-31. Hifi and Biberovic both scored twice, before three-pointers from Bandja Sy and Sebastian Herrera kept Paris close 35-36. Biberovic also fired from deep and Dyshawn Pierre added a layup, but Shorts responded from mid-range. Herrera added another three-ball, and Hall’s free throws made it 40-46 at the break.

Shorts opened the second-half scoring before Guduric and Ward traded triples. Paris gained further momentum with consecutive baskets from Shorts, then surged into the lead 55-53 as Hifi and Ouattara netted in a 6-0 run. The scoring slowed until Wade Baldwin scored from close-range, but Hifi kept Paris pushing with two straight scores. Hayes-Davis’s three-ball made it 59-58, before Baldwin’s layup helped make it 61-63 with 10 minutes left.

Collin Malcolm’s tough bucket tied it up to start the fourth, and Hayes added a put-back slam for a Paris lead. Pierre and Hayes-Davis forced another lead change, but Shorts tied it again, 67-67. McCollum and Shorts made smooth jumpers, then Khem Birch’s dunk made it 71-73 with 4 minutes left. Baldwin’s jumper and Guduric’s free throws stretched it to 71-77, before Shorts’ driving layup gave Paris hope. Biberovic and Hifi traded triples, and it was 76-80 heading into the last minute. Shorts scored at the rim and added a jumper to tie it with 15 seconds left to force overtime.

Biberovic opened the additional minute with his fifth three-pointer followed by a baseline jumper, and completed a 0-7 run with a fast-break finish. Hifi’s layup kept Paris alive, but Guduric responded for an 82-90 lead. Hayes-Davis added a layup-and-one, and Hifi’s four-point play wasn’t enough for the hosts as Hayes-Davis netted again to make sure of the win.

The Turkish team became the first qualifier for the end-of-season showpiece

Fenerbahce Beko has secured its place at the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four for the seventh time in total and second year in succession.

Fenerbahce heads to second Final Four in a row

After sweeping its playoff series for the fourth time in club history, [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) can prepare for its second Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four appearance in succession under coach Saras Jasikevicius. 

Fenerbahce won all three games against Paris Basketball – Games 1 and 2 at home, then Game 3 on the road – to become the first team to book its ticket for the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

After ending a five-year wait to reach the Final Four last year, Fenerbahce heads to Abu Dhabi with ambitions of bringing the EuroLeague title back to Istanbul.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">FENERBAHÇE BEKO, EUROLEAGUE&#39;DE FINAL FOUR&#39;DA! 💛💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/C0TZpULR7g">pic.twitter.com/C0TZpULR7g</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1917320401782235228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Fenerbahce’s Final Four history

Fenerbahce is heading to its seventh Final Four in club history. Its first time heading to the Final Four came in 2015 with coach Zeljko Obradovic at the helm, which turned out to be the first of five successive trips to European basketball’s showpiece event under the Serbian play-caller.

To date, Fenerbahce has reached the Final Four in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, and now 2025.

By moving to seven Final Four appearances, Fenerbahce goes level with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv for joint fourth all-time, although the Greens could move to eight if they advance past Anadolu Efes Istanbul in their playoff series.

### How many EuroLeague titles have Fenerbahce won?

Fenerbahce’s first and only EuroLeague title came in 2017, when it beat Olympiacos Piraeus in the championship game in Istanbul, Turkiye. It also lost in the title decider in 2016 and 2018 to CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid, respectively.

### Which Fenerbahce players have won the EuroLeague before?

Team captain [Melih Mahmutoglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/melih-mahmutoglu/002969/) was a member of Fenerbahce’s 2017 title triumph. He is the only player on the roster with a EuroLeague title to their name.

### Who is heading to their first Final Four?

Most of this Fenerbahce squad went to the 2024 Final Four, but [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/), [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/), [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/), [Arturs Zagars](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arturs-zagars/008104/) and [Jilson Bango](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jilson-bango/013696/) will play at their first Final Four. [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) and [Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/), two of Fenerbahce’s signings last summer, both have Final Four experience under their belt.

This is the seventh time the 2017 champion has made it to the Final Four

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Playoffs pregame quotes: Game 3

## Wednesday, April 30

### FC Barcelona vs. AS Monaco (19:00 CEST)

**Joan Peñarroya, FC Barcelona head coach**

"First of all, we have to focus exclusively on \[Game 3\], without looking any further. We have to play a good game against an opponent that has been better than us last week. If we do things right, I am convinced that we can win, especially playing at Palau Blaugrana, in front of our people. In playoff games, their support is noticed even more. Monaco is a physical team because of its players are really athletic. We knew that: there are many teams that play this way, even when they don't have such a deep roster as Monaco. We have to be smarter and take a step forward in situations in which we can do better. We are also a physical team, but many times, physicality is not the key, but reading the game well, being ready and focused on our game, not on how they force us to play. Jan \[Vesely\] is doubtful: he is trying but it looks difficult that he will be able to help us. We know how they play and how we want to play. It is a playoff game and everyone has its weapons. They took the first two games where they wanted them and we have to have the ability to know what they do and take them where it is more convenient for us. We will try to improve through our game. Energy, willingness, ambition, Palau Blaugrana… we count on all that, but it is our game which has to make us improve, to avoid this feeling of collapse."

**Joel Parra, FC Barcelona forward**

"It is time to deliver. We know it is hard, but we believe. Since Game 2 finished, we have looked to each other's faces and said we could turn this situation around. We have done it many times this season, playing as a team in the most difficult moments. We expect Palau Blaugrana to be as good as always and even better. For us, it is a final and this is what's most important. There are no excuses. It is one of the three finals we hope to play \[against Monaco\]. We had three days to recover and it is hard, given the calendar and the injuries we have. But again, there are no excuses. We know it will be a very difficult game and they will arrive here with the same dynamics, but can't allow that in our home. In such a long series, you have to try new things and our coaching staff will help us do them, what to do and how to protect ourselves. Above all, energy is the biggest key. When we went to Monaco, we had beaten them twice in the regular season and now they beat us twice. We analyzed both games and their physicality has been the biggest key. We didn't play at the same physical level as we did throughout the regular season. We know this and here at Palau, we will take a step forward with all of our fans helping us."

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19:45 CEST)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach**

"There is a good balance between the two teams, and Efes is a good team. We will go there to fight, to try to win both games. We know that we will play tough games. Both games in Athens were tough games. We won the first game that maybe Efes deserved to win, and we lost the second game that I believed we deserved to win because we led for 39 minutes and 30 seconds. Now we go there to win a game. It will be important to be ready to fight, to play good basketball, because Efes is playing good basketball."

"We are professional. All of us we fight for our team, for Panathinaikos, to win the game. I said a month ago that Efes is the only team I don’t like to play \[against\] in the playoffs. Not because we are friends but because they are a good team and they have very experienced players, like Shane Larkin, Elijah Bryant, Vincent Poirier, that I know in that kind of game they try to do their best. This season, we won many difficult games on the road. It will be a great atmosphere, we are in the playoffs. Every team tries to create a home-court advantage. But we saw, the show is nice, we are the best club and have the best fans to make a show, but it does not affect the final results. Efes fans are one of the most fair fans in Europe, but they will for sure make a good atmosphere."

"The pressure is on both sides right now, maybe more on Efes. We were the favorites when the series started. Now, maybe they are the favorites. It’s the playoffs, the pressure is the same on all teams, because everyone wants to go to the Final Four."

**Cedi Osman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward**

"To be honest, we are not going for one, we are going for both games. Obviously, gooing game by game. We know the capacity we have, we know what kind of team we are. I believe in our team and the coaches. Everybody is ready for a fight because it will be a very tough game in Istanbul. Everybody is ready to give everything on the floor, on \[Wednesday night\], and again Friday night. We watched our second game again, we were really playing well. Just a small details that we missed, and I think if we fix those we will have a good chance to win both games. I am 100% ready to go and excited to be on the floor."

"\[Efes\] is a team that I played for nine years before going to the NBA. But as a professional, I got to be on the floor and give my 100%. I am playing for Panathinaikos and my heart is here, and I am doing all my best to help the team reach the Final Four. That’s the only goal for me, but I got nothing but respect for Efes."

**Luca Banchi, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach**

"We are very excited to approach this new chapter of the series with two games in Istanbul. That was our task before the games in Athens. The first two games proved how tight and how balanced these series will be. Both games proved that not even a double-digit advantage was enough for teams to capitalize. So everybody needs 40 minutes of their best, high-intensity and best continuity, because I believe team have talented roster with such talented players that possess the capacity to become game-changers and game-finishers in every moment during this series. So, we want to prepare ourselves to also absorb their strong desire to revenge after the last loss. We have the defending champion in front of us, and they will combine their capacity together with a strong will, and that's why we want to respond in the same way as we did in Athens, ready to compete from the beginning at every level."

**Dan Oturu, Anadolu Efes Istanbul center**<br>
"It will be an exciting atmosphere, another opportunity to go out and compete. We have to stay focused on playing our brand of basketball. It will feel good to have the support of our home fans."

## Tuesday, April 29

### Paris Basketball vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:30 CEST)

**Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach**

"We have to match the desperation of Paris. Especially important first quarter over there and the entrance to the game, where they are the best. The atmosphere will be very favorable for them. After that we need to continue being patient offensively, share the ball, find the best shooter and, like always, try to look at their guards as much as we can.

**Wade Baldwin, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard**

"Thoughts before the game are just to continue what we’ve been doing for the past two games. Obviously, they are more desperate to win and we have to go to finish the job. Let’s see what happens on Tuesday."

### Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (21:00 CEST)

**Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach**

"We are only thinking about what is ahead of us. We only have to win one game because for us nothing matters about what happened in Athens or what may happen in the future. I think the best way to face a playoff series is to think only and exclusively about what is in front of you and that is tomorrow's game, a very important game for us in which we have to keep correcting things. From Game 1 to Game 2 we corrected some things, not everything. There are still aspects of the game where Olympiacos is hurting us and we have to change what we did not do well. We had a good chance to win Game 2, and we need to get over the line in Game 3."

**Andres Feliz, Real Madrid guard**

"It's been a very tough series, but we are confident and we will fight to win the home games with the support of our fans and playing as a team. We must learn from the two games we played in Greece. We know what we have to do against Olympiacos. We have to be focused from the first minute, leave everything out there and go for the win. We need our fans to give us that extra boost that pushes us, and we want to do well because, after all, we are playing for them."

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach**

"We will try to be better defensively from the first quarter compared to the last game; to stay solid, to play for the win, and to overcome some minor injury issues that have arisen, although we hope that won't affect the players' availability."

**Saben Lee, Olympiacos Piraeus guard**

"It will definitely be a tough game. After all, it's difficult to beat a team three times in a row. But I feel that we are ready for it."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs

Playoffs pregame quotes, Game 3: 'We are going for both games'

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-04-30T17:45:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v AS Monaco (2025-04-30T17:00:00.000Z)

Ahead of the second – and maybe last – week of the playoffs, Eurohoops takes a look at eight things (two for each quarterfinal series) to look forward to in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Eight things to look forward to in the second week of the EuroLeague Playoffs

Three of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series are at 2-0 and there’s only one with the two teams tied. [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/), [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) are one win away from the Abu Dhabi Final Four after getting two victories against [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/), [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) and [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/), respectively. In the meantime, [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) escaped OAKA with the dub over [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) in Game 2, courtesy of [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/).

Ahead of the second – and maybe last – week of the playoffs, we take a look at eight things (two for each quarterfinal series) to look forward to. From the factors that can lead to sweeps, to what teams should do to survive and star players that need to raise the level of their game.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1817997/eight-things-to-look-forward-to-in-the-second-week-of-the-euroleague-playoffs/).

Three teams could close out their respective series in Game 3

FC Barcelona v AS Monaco (2025-05-02T18:45:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-05-02T17:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-05-01T19:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-05-01T18:30:00.000Z)

The 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season will be remembered not only as the most competitive regular-season campaign on the court, but also as the most followed in history. For the fourth consecutive year, in-arena attendance set a new record with a remarkable 3,039,060 spectators. Off the court, the League’s digital and social media performance continued to break new ground, cementing the EuroLeague’s status as a global leader in sports engagement.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season shatters digital and social media records

- **Double digit growth on platforms' engagement, followers and views**
- **A record 1.5 billion impressions reached**

The 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season will be remembered not only as the most competitive regular-season campaign on the court, but also as the most followed in history. For the fourth consecutive year, in-arena attendance set a new record with a [remarkable 3,039,060 spectators](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/news/euroleague-regular-season-attendance-sets-new-record/). Off the court, the League’s digital and social media performance continued to break new ground, cementing the EuroLeague’s status as a global leader in sports engagement.

**SOCIAL MEDIA: UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH ACROSS ALL CHANNELS**

The EuroLeague’s social media platforms saw double-digit growth in all key metrics, with total impressions reaching a record-breaking 1.5 billion. Total video views surged by 56%, totaling 816 million, while engagement raised by 21%, showing just how passionate the EuroLeague fan base is.

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/euroleague/#) emerged as the top-performing platform with 1.34 million followers, marking a 22% increase. The platform drove 559 million views (+58%) and 918.6 million impressions (+33%), solidifying its status as the EuroLeague fan base’s favorite social network.

- [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@euroleague) was the standout growth platform, with triple-digit gains across the board. Impressions soared by 126% to 149.4 million, views hit 149.5 million (+126%), and engagement doubled (+105%) to reach 11.2 million. A highlight was the exclusive [*Hoop District* live stream collaboration](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/hoop-district-goes-live-on-tiktok-a-groundbreaking-global-first/), aligning perfectly with the disruptive and innovative spirit of the tournament.

- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/euroleague), [X](https://x.com/Euroleague) (formerly Twitter) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheEuroLeague/) also posted significant growth. [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/euroleague) engagement increased by 92% to 676,732, and views climbed 63% to 32.1 million, driven by popular series like the [EuroLeague & Friends](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcjy-GNBj1yVF3i2kWIseta5qBjEJSmP) and [Fantasy Challenge](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcjy-GNBj1xiCJQa4EM2lCMCqXSVxLr7) podcasts. On [X](https://x.com/Euroleague), engagement rose by 13%, with a 4% increase in views, now totaling 51.2 million, while [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheEuroLeague/) registered 173.2 million impressions.

[**EUROLEAGUE.TV**](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV) **AND FANTASY GAME: FAN ENGAGEMENT REIMAGINED**

[EuroLeague.TV](http://EuroLeague.TV), the League’s official OTT platform, saw a 37% increase in subscriptions. Key upgrades - such as seamless integration with [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net) and expanded streaming coverage, including the 2025 LBA Final Eight - enhancing the fan experience and broadening its reach.

Meanwhile, the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/login?from=/) game continued its meteoric rise, with a record 290,000 players (+101%) and 541,000 teams created (+63%). With high engagement across key markets like Serbia, Greece, Italy, Turkiye, Spain and Germany, and successful partnerships with leading media outlets, the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/login?from=/) has truly become a global phenomenon.