### Kostas Sloukas, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard

"It's going to be difficult. We know how difficult it is to play against Fenerbahce. We lost our first game there, against a different coach, but it is going to be really difficult. They won in a tough place like Monaco, but we hope that we will have a lot of Panathinaikos fans in the stands. We count on their support and on the team's winning mentality. Being in a team like this makes you think in a different way, with a winning mentality. They changed the way I saw things."

### Luca Vildoza, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard

"Until I came here, I didn't feel the adrenalin that comes with being here. It feels different. I have fought for many years to be in a Final Four and to be honest, being here is spectacular. In the end, I am here in a Final Four, playing for one of the greatest teams in Europe. I am in my first Final Four and I hope many more will come. I am happy to be here, ready to enjoy it and if I have the chance to be on the court, I will make the most of it."

### Mathias Lessort, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens center

"It doesn’t matter that we haven’t been here for 12 years, it’s a Final Four. It’s important. It’s a big game for all four teams. It’s tremendous that we got here. I hope that tomorrow night the achievement will be that we made the final. We played Fenerbahce in the preseason and twice in the regular season. We are professionals, we follow games, we watch games. There are a lot of guys who have been there for years. A lot of guys we have played against each other for years. So we know each other well, but at the end of the day, it’s going to be about being focused, being aggressive on the court, being ready to fight and get the job done. At the end of the day, it’s a basektabll game. We’re in a hotel like we usually do. We have to try to keep the same schedule we usually do. We have to approach it as a basketball game, be as focused as we can and come with a sense of urgency."

### Ioannis Papapetrou, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward

"We are a brand new team with a lot of new players. We needed the time. We had some early injuries during the season. We needed the time to fight, to play better and be in a better position. As far as Fener, for sure, they needed time, too. They changed coaches, and the new coach brought a lot of new things to the team, and he added a lot of his character to the team. So I think both of us evolved during the season and played our best basketball now. It would be great to limit their three-point shooters and more importantly for me, their creation. They shoot the ball well because they move the ball well and they have great shooters, but they know how to move the ball and get their guys open. So we have to limit that and be over-aggressive to their creation."

Game Videos

### Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach

“As we’re facing the next level of the competition, it’s obvious everything has to improve: our preparation, our discipline, our physicality… everything. Basically, a lot of the difficulties Panathinaikos presents would be similar to Monaco: great guard play, everybody exactly understanding what their roles are, an experienced coach. But at the same time, all the small details like how this is a big game and we are constantly talking about small details. One ball, one turnover, correctly made foul can change the outcome of the game. We need to be ready and every player needs to give 1 or 2 minutes if necessary.”

### Dyshawn Pierre, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward

"It's honestly an honor. I feel everyone's really excited to be here, and we are just happy. Obviously, tomorrow is going to be a really big game, so we are excited for it, and ready... It's going to be a tough game against Panathinaikos tomorrow. We have to lock in on our principles, starting with defense. When we are hitting shots, we are obviously good but if we are playing really good defense, we are really good, too. We are going to take some things from the two \[regular-season\] games that we played. But I think each team is going to make adjustments. We have to be able to read the game and do what we think is going to be best for us. Our coaching staff has done a great job outlining it for us for the two weeks that we have been preparing."

### Marko Guduric, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard

“The semifinals of the EuroLeague. I mean what can I say? It's one game. We are doing our best to prepare. We are going to be ready for this. We play against a very good opponent with a coach we know really well and also some players. The key is going to be concentration and keeping composure because everybody is going to be nervous. There is a lot of pressure. So we just have to be composed and calm. I think that is the key for us.”

### Scottie Wilbekin, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard

"I think turnovers could play a big role and obviously just making shots. If we can limit our turnovers, that will put us in a good position… It would be amazing to win. That is the goal every season. If we are able to do it, that would be amazing.”

Game News

Two teams making their Final Four returns after many years away will also face off at the European basketball showcase for the first time. 

Luca Vildoza, Panathinaikos: 'Being here is spectacular'

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-24T16:00:00.000Z)

Feel the action with the bodycams technology

The fans wanted it and here they have it: MindFly returns for the Final Four

Following on from the successful collaboration between Euroleague Basketball and MindFly during the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, the partnership is ready to go to another level at the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany.

At the Final Four, two referees per game will be using MindFly’s cutting-edge technology for the EuroLeague Semifinals and the EuroLeague Championship Game, as ultralight AI powered bodycams which record video and audio capture conversations between players and officials. This will offer fans unprecedented access to the biggest games in the EuroLeague calendar.

EuroLeague fans were able to get a peek behind the curtain for some of the biggest derbies of the season thanks to MindFly’s equipment, with six derbies being featured in the 2023-24 campaign: [Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/experience-el-clasico-like-never-before/); [AS Monaco vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/go-right-on-court-with-monaco-and-asvel/); [Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/join-virtus-bologna-olimpia-milano-on-the-floor-euroleague-derby-ditalia/); [Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/mindfly-referee-cams-went-inside-the-istanbul-derby/); [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/go-inside-the-belgrade-derby-with-mindflys-referee-cams/); and [Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/the-greek-derby-like-youve-never-seen-it-before/).

Later in the regular season, two FC Bayern Munich players wore the technology during [a regular-season contest against Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/see-the-euroleague-action-with-first-ever-mindfly-player-cams/), as fans could see how Niels Giffey and Isaac Bonga move and interact with both their teammates and opposition players on the court.

MindFly and Euroleague Basketball have already broken new ground with this type of technology, with fans loving this type of content, but on the Final Four stage – with so many eyeballs on the event – new streaming records are almost guaranteed to be achieved.

The first official act of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four was the opening Press Conference, which was held in the grand lobby at Uber Arena in the German capital. Coach Chus Mateo and Walter Tavares represented defending champion Real Madrid, Coach Georgios Bartzokas and Kostas Papanikolaou were there from Olympiacos Piraeus, Coach Ergin Ataman and Kostas Sloukas from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, and Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and Nigel Hayes-Davis from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Here are the moments basketball fans need to be aware of from the hour-long event. 

The best of the opening press conference

The first official act of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four was the opening Press Conference, which was held in the grand lobby at Uber Arena in the German capital. Coach Chus Mateo and Walter Tavares represented defending champion Real Madrid, Coach Georgios Bartzokas and Kostas Papanikolaou were there from Olympiacos Piraeus, Coach Ergin Ataman and Kostas Sloukas from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, and Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and Nigel Hayes-Davis from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Here are the moments basketball fans need to be aware of from the hour-long event. 

### The coaches trade compliments, not jabs

Mutual respect was on display from the very beginning as all four head coaches made sure to play nicely against their opponents. In his opening statement, Mateo said that Olympiacos has “the heart of a champion” and that the Reds are “gentlemen on the court and on the bench. We respect them a lot.” Bartzokas later called Real “a winning machine.”

### Keep an eye out for Nigel’s kicks

Earlier this season, Hayes-Davis adopted a pet cat named Sly that was found in the VIP Room of Ulker Sports and Event Hall and he was asked about whether Sly was with him in Berlin. Though he answered in the negative, the Fenerbahce forward shared some news that fans will have to watch for: “I do have some custom shoes dedicated to her that I’ll be wearing.”

### It’s about the little things… and luck 

“It’s a matter of which team will be in the best shape, on the best day, small details and a bit of luck, because luck is part of sports.  This is what defines who is going to be the final winner,” said Papanikolaou.

Sloukas agreed. “In these kinds of games, tactics in one hand, but most important is how much you want to win. Talking about rebounds, small things, steals, easy baskets, how to use fouls. These are the most important things in these kinds of games,” the Panathinaikos guard continued. “Luck is part of the game, especially in a 40-minute game, and I hope luck will be with us.” 

“These games come down to the details,” Hayes-Davis added. “The rebounds, loose balls. Those are the plays that when you go to sleep after losing, or a year or two from now, when you think about why you lost the game, you think about that rebound that you should have got if you had taken an extra step or were in the right spot.”

### There are no favorites

“Coach Bartzokas said that we are four of the best teams in the EuroLeague and none of us are undefeated, which means that anyone can be beaten on any night,” Hayes Davis said in his opening statement. 

“There is always pressure when you come to play in the Final Four. When you get so close to the trophy, it is normal,” added Papanikolaou. “Media usually is the one who represents who is the favorite or not. I don’t believe in that. I believe that each team that is here has the same percentage. It is two games to win the trophy.”

### Memories from 2009

One of the lightest moments of the press conference came when Jasikevicius was asked about his memories of winning the EuroLeague as a Panathinaikos player in 2009. He started off by calling it “the best Final Four in terms of quality, the best Final Four in terms of games coming down to the last shot.” One of those games was the semifinals between the two Greek clubs when Kostas Sloukas played for Olympiacos. 

“Kostas \[Sloukas\] told me on the way to the stage that he was left out of the 12 for the semifinal. I didn’t know that,” Jasikevicius said before pivoting to Ataman with some advice. “By the way, Ergin, you should think about this strategy for tomorrow… Maybe think about it.”

Ataman replied: “You know, when we beat you in OAKA this year, Kostas was injured and out of the team!”

And Jasikevicius told him: “So don’t change what is working!”

### Doing it for Rudy

Three-time champion Rudy Fernandez has announced that this will be his final season and the Real Madrid representatives spoke glowingly of the veteran. 

“He is extra motivated, probably for this reason, Mateo said of Fernandez. “We all know that he is going to leave professional basketball from the summer probably and we will try to gift him the last trophy for him. This is one of the reasons we are fighting.”

Tavares added: “That is one of my motivations. As a fan he is one of my favorite players. What he does on the court, what he does off the court… For me, one of the biggest motivations is to help him win the EuroLeague in his last season.”  

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Check out the 2024 Final Four Magazine!

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four Magazine is ready and available to be downloaded at <https://publications.euroleague.net/en/berlin2024>. You can get all the information about what’s happening this weekend as Berlin becomes the global sporting capital with events on and off the court in and around Uber Arena, plus all the info recapping the season, profiles of the Final Four teams, impactful quotes and much, much more. Be sure to download a copy to enhance your Final Four experience!

After these two teams met in last season's gran finale, Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus will duel for one ticket to this season's championship game in second semifinal on Friday at the EuroLeague Final Four at Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Championship game rematch, Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos, in second semifinal

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/330/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en//news/tae2324-ff-sf-a-game-facts-mad-oly/euroleague) | [Notes ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-ff-sf-a-game-notes-mad-oly/)| [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-ff-sf-a-pregame-quotes-mad-oly/)

The second semifinal is a rematch of last season’s championship game, which came down to the final shot before Real Madrid triumphed. *Los Blancos* finished atop the regular season standings and swept Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the playoffs. Olympiacos was placed fifth at the end of the regular season and then overcame a 2-1 deficit to take down FC Barcelona in a grueling playoff duel. Both teams are making their third straight Final Four appearances.

The protagonists in the first Euroleague Basketball game of the modern era, on October 16, 2000, Real Madrid and Olympiacos have a rich history together. In addition to last season’s final, Real bested Olympiacos in the 1995 championship game in Zaragoza, Spain; the Reds triumphed in the 2013 title game in London and two years later in Madrid, the locals celebrated at Olympiacos’s expense. They’ve also met in the 1996, 2009 and 2014 playoffs.

On the floor, this game is the ultimate clash of styles and tempo. Real Madrid led the league this season in scoring, rebounds, assists and PIR. Olympiacos boasted the top-ranked defense both in terms of points and PIR allowed. It should be a treat!

[Real Madrid Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/statistics/mad/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Olympiacos Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/statistics/oly/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Facu Campazzo vs. Thomas Walkup: An offensive whiz facing a defensive master

After these two teams met in last season's gran finale, 'Los Blancos' and the Reds will duel for one ticket to this season's championship game

Panathinaikos BC and Fenerbahce Istanbul clash in the first semifinal at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four at Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce clash in the first semifinal

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/331/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-ff-sf-b-game-facts-pan-ulk/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-ff-sf-b-game-notes-pan-ulk/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-ff-sf-b-pregame-quotes-pan-ulk/)

Two teams making their Final Four returns after many years away will also face off at the European basketball showcase for the first time. After finishing the regular season in second place, Panathinaikos survived a five-game playoff thriller against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to reach its first Final Four since 2012.

Fenerbahce was sixth at the end of the regular season and then upset AS Monaco in the playoffs. This will be Fenerbahce’s first Final Four since 2019. Their only previous postseason meetings came when Fenerbahce swept the Greens in the 2017 playoffs en route to the club’s only EuroLeague crown. In the teams’ two games this season, each won at home by a double-digit margin.

Of note, Panathinaikos’s head coach Ergin Ataman is also the head coach of the Turkish national team. Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, point guard [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and center [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) are all former Panathinaikos players.

[Panathinaikos Stats ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/statistics/pan/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)| [Fenerbahce Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/statistics/ulk/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Kostas Sloukas vs. Nick Calathes: Veteran point guards seeking glory

The 2024 EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin tips off with this duel between high-powered contenders 

Jerian Grant, Panathinaikos: 'The Final Four is something special'

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard Jerian Grant is about to experience the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the first time and he said he is excited for it. After arriving at the headquarters hotel on Wednesday night, Grant stopped by the interview station to share his thoughts. His team faces Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the first semifinal on Friday.

Scottie Wilbekin, Fenerbahce: 'Excited to experience everything'

Now in his eighth Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, Scottie Wilbekin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has arrived in Berlin for the first Final Four of his career. Before heading out to eat with his father, who flew halfway around the globe to be here, Wilbekin stopped by the interview station at the Final Four headquarters hotel to chat. His team faces Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the first semifinal on Friday.

Second to the interview station at the Final Four headquarters hotel in Berlin on Wednesday was Sergio "El Chacho" Rodriguez of Real Madrid, a nine-time and three-time winner of the even whose team rolled into the German capital as champions. His team faces a title-game rematch with Olympiacos Piraeus in the semifinals on Friday.