Name: Follow the Real Madrid-Olympiacos Game 3 post-game press conference
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

With a defensive-minded approach, Real Madrid showed in Game 3 that it can cause problems for Olympiacos BC in Game 4.

Real Madrid discovered a blueprint to build on ahead of Game 4

A return to basics is often considered as the best solution when a team finds itself with its back against the wall, and that was the situation for [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) at halftime [against Olympiacos Piraeus on Tuesday night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-beats-olympiacos-80-72-in-game-3-to-trim-series-deficit/). 

The hosts hit the ground running and took a 28-21 lead into the second quarter, but the Reds bounced back and outscored *Los Blancos* 10-23 to make it 38-44 after 20 minutes.

Enter Real Madrid’s most powerful weapon in this last stretch of the season. The hosts’ defense suffocated Olympiacos’s offense, holding the visitors to just 12 and 16 points in the last two quarters. This was just the third time that Georgios Bartzokas’s men have scored fewer than 73 points in one game this season. 

“Our defense was very good,” coach Chus Mateo told EuroLeague TV after the game. “We stayed together in the bad moments and we grew up as a team.”

Real Madrid recorded 11 steals and scored as many as 16 points off turnovers throughout the game. All players who stepped on to the floor, including starters and second unit, were locked in on defense, with [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/), [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/), [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) registering 2 steals each. Four of their steals came in the crucial fourth quarter, dealing a big blow to the guests.

“We know that the playoffs are \[about\] defense and not offense,” Tavares stressed. “If we play defense, on offense we have more confidence to make the plays, make the shots.”

Ten of Olympiacos’s 14 turnovers came after the break, with the guests struggling to share the ball in their bid to find open looks. 

“We turned the ball over 10 times in the last 20 minutes and all of that was transition points that we gave them,” Bartzokas admitted in the post-game press conference.

Despite losing Game 2 in Piraeus, Real Madrid held Olympiacos to just 77 points, laying a solid foundation to build on. A few adjustments on both ends and [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/)’s absence due to injury allowed the hosts to tighten up their defense. 

Boosted by the crowd at Movistar Arena, Real Madrid didn’t allow Olympiacos to produce the signature free-flowing offense that helped it clinch top spot in the regular-season standings.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">👏 ¡Seguimos! 👏 <a href="https://t.co/9BNh7Jg3f8">pic.twitter.com/9BNh7Jg3f8</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1917326775631180272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The two teams will have less than a couple of days to work on their adjustments before they take to the floor on Thursday night, when Real Madrid will look to even the series while Olympiacos will aim for a victory that would clinch them a spot at the Final Four.

“We've just got to get one more win,” Musa told EuroLeague TV. “We know that it’s not going to be easy on Thursday. They will adjust, they will be better, but I think that we now have the formula of how we want to play, how we want to approach these games and I think that if we do the right thing, we can tie the series.”

The blueprint is there for Real Madrid, which has lost just five games at home this season. One of those defeats came at the hands of Olympiacos, with Tuesday’s loss for the Reds being their first loss on Spanish soil this season. 

With Game 4 just around the corner, Real Madrid can look back on its players’ effort and hustle in the second half of Game 3 and draw inspiration as it looks to take the series back to Greece.

Game News

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

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.

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

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

Follow the post-game press conference after Game 3 between Real Madrid Baloncesto and Olympiacos BC in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Follow the Real Madrid-Olympiacos Game 3 post-game press conference

Real Madrid forward Dzanan Musa spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Olympiacos Piraeus in Game 3 of their 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.

Dzanan Musa: 'We have the formula of how we want to play'

Real Madrid center Walter Tavares spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Olympiacos Piraeus in Game 3 of their 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.

Walter Tavares: 'The playoffs are about defense, not offense'

Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Follow the post-game press conference after Game 3 between Paris Basketball and Fenerbahce Beko in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Follow the Paris-Fenerbahce Game 3 post-game press conference

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward Nigel Hayes-Davis spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Paris Basketball in Game 3 to sweep their 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.

Nigel Hayes-Davis: 'We look forward to Abu Dhabi'

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward Tarik Biberovic spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Paris Basketball in Game 3 to sweep their 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.

Tarik Biberovic: 'I worked all my life for these moments'

Paris Basketball-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

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. [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) also won the 2021 championship as a member of Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

### 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/), [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) 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