Real, Panathinaikos players meet the press before big day
Rudy Fernandez, Real player
"I think that yesterday's game showed the great level Panathinaikos has reached right now, and I think we are aware of the difficulty of this game, but I believe that we also come off a very solid game, both on defense and offense, taking care of small details. Tomorrow's game will be what you expect from a EuroLeague final, in which we have to very strong mentally at any moment in the game, whether we are playing well or if we struggle at some point, which I am sure it will happen. But we have to have the right mindset, knowing it will be a very long game that will go down to small details. I will try to help my teammates as much as I can. Thankfully, almost everyone comes off a great final last season, which is what gives you experience. We are all aware that we have to play as a team tomorrow, and I hope we can win another title for Real Madrid."
Alberto Abalde, Real player
"Panathinaikos's main danger is that they have different weapons. I believe they have a lot of generators, but also have Lessort inside, plus a lot of players alongside them. When it comes to generating, Sloukas and Nunn are key, their main players, but I believe they are a deep team that will play very physical. We will have to play a very good game to beat them. This game cannot be compared to anything else. A EuroLeague Championship Game is the biggest game that you can play in European basketball. You cannot explain how it feels to be here and arrive to the Final Four, all the work it takes to even be in a situation like this. You have to work hard for many years to be in this situation, me and my teammates. There are moments of nervousness, fight, but also joy."
Sergio Rodriguez, Real player
"Panathinaikos is a very different team. Olympiacos is a great defensive team, and Panathinaikos is very competitive, very physical. They also have a lot of talent with decisive players both inside and outside. And well, you are playing for the EuroLeague title. We all have seen the playing level the EuroLeague has, and in a championship game, logically, both teams have a lot of talent. There is a lot of adrenaline, you are here in front of a lot of fans, with your family watching you. You work for this moment all season and try to be very focused, and that should give us confidence to be able to enjoy. We have worked well all season and want to win another title. The two games against Panathinaikos are a strange reference because we had injuries in Athens, and the game in Madrid came right after winning the Copa del Rey. We didn't play at the level we showed for the best part of the season. It will be a tough game, a different one, especially since both teams come off a very good semifinal. They have a lot of talent with players able to decide the game. We have to limit then, because stopping them is almost impossible, and we have to be very careful. We had a fantastic start of the game yesterday, and we have to come out with the same intensity and energy."
Vincent Poirier, Real player
"It is important to start well, get a good rhythm and keep it throughout the game. We have to have a good feeling early and play defense for all 40 minutes. Panathinaikos is a dangerous team in all aspects of the game. We have to play as a team and when it comes to the paint, prevent them from getting easy shots and stop their pick-and-roll game. On offense, we have to play together and stay together for 40 minutes. It will be a very difficult game, played until the end. The whole team has to be ready to fight. I know how it feels to win a title on the bench. I couldn't play last season and now, I have the opportunity to make an impact in the game. I can't wait to play another final."
Mario Hezonja, Real player
"This is also great for the EuroLeague at the end of the day. This is why these Final fours are so important for our product, for our basketball that we show to the entire world, to see how everything is so competitive. That is great. I hope the whole arena is filled with green, yellow, red, or white with our fans. It does not matter, as long as it is full and it shows the spirit of our basketball here. They know what they are doing. They are run by a great coach, and what is the most dangerous about them is they all know their role so this makes them an extremely dangerous team. They finished second for a reason."
Marius Grigonis, Panathinaikos player
"It's a privilege. We are blessed that we are here, and we will try to enjoy the final. But obviously we have to be focused on all the details and everything. But first we have to enjoy this and don't take it for granted. They have a really good team. We have to be aggressive, try to outrun them and be super physical. This is the key. I believe it's just to be better, be physical and then see. Personally, I don't care what happened in the season. It's just one game, and we are here in Berlin."
Luca Vildoza, Panathinaikos player
"We practiced all season to be here. I feel good physically and mentally, ready to go if I have the chance to step on the court tomorrow and if I don't, helping from the bench. We had a spectacular second half [against Fenerbahce]. I wish we can repeat that tomorrow but we know it will be difficult. We are aware of Real's offensive arsenal but we hope to win the game tomorrow. Both teams had a great season to make it here. Both teams deserve to be here, so we will see which side the coin falls tomorrow."
Juancho Hernangomez, Panathinaikos player
"Anything can happen. We dreamed about this and worked hard all season, so we have to fight it. I was talking to Rudy [Fernandez] the other day but in the end, it is a final and there are no friends in the 40 minutes both teams are on the court. No matter what happens, we will keep having a great relationship like we have now, and play together in the national team. In the end, this is something that we have been doing for many years: it is a basketball game, one more. It is more special, being a final, but you have to go out there and give your everything, that's it. We have nothing to lose and will fight for it."
Jerian Grant, Panathinaikos player
“Real Madrid is a really good offensive team, but we’ve got guys that can score, too, guys that can defend, so they are going to have to match our energy. We are the second seed in all Europe, so if we go out there and play our game, we are confident that we can win. We had a lot of ups and downs this year. We had a brand new team, all guys getting to know each other in September, October. To be where we are today it shows that we’ve got bunch of fighters. I am excited, really excited to have one game to call yourself a champion, everybody is confident and excited.”