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Galatasaray secured a spot in the Basketball Champions League final after defeating Spanish side La Laguna Tenerife 90-80 in the semi-finals at Athens' SUNEL Arena on Friday, marking a historic milestone for the Turkish club in their fifth season of BCL competition.
The yellow-red squad faced early challenges as the Spanish side established control at the outset of the contest. La Laguna Tenerife, led by Marcelinho Huertas' sharp mid-range shooting, built a 24-20 advantage after the first quarter. Tenerife continued to apply pressure, with Thomas Scrubb's driving layup sparking a 6-0 scoring run that pushed their lead to 29-20 at the 11-minute mark.
The Spanish club maintained their momentum throughout much of the second quarter, with Tim Abromaitis scoring on a drive to the basket that extended the margin to double digits at 33-22 with 13 minutes played. Galatasaray initially struggled to find their offensive rhythm against Tenerife's disciplined defense.
However, the tide began to turn late in the second period. James Palmer Jr. connected on a crucial three-pointer to ignite a 12-0 scoring surge for Galatasaray that narrowed the gap to 40-37 with just two minutes remaining before halftime. Tenerife managed to regroup briefly with baskets from Ibou Badji and Aaron Doornekamp, taking a 43-40 advantage into the locker room.
Galatasaray emerged from halftime with renewed defensive intensity and offensive focus. At the 22-minute mark, Palmer hit another critical three-pointer that gave his team their first lead since the opening minutes, putting Galatasaray ahead 45-43.
The momentum continued to build for the Türkiye representatives as the third quarter progressed. Ebuka Izundu delivered an emphatic slam dunk at the 26-minute mark, capping a 9-0 run that extended Galatasaray's lead to 61-49. The Turkish club's defensive adjustments proved particularly effective, limiting Tenerife's scoring opportunities and forcing several turnovers.
Michael Young punctuated the dominant quarter with a three-pointer with just 10 seconds remaining, sending Galatasaray into the final period with a commanding 64-55 advantage. The 24-12 scoring differential in the third quarter fundamentally altered the complexion of the contest.
Galatasaray maintained their aggressive approach to start the fourth quarter, determined not to relinquish their hard-earned lead. Will Cummings converted from the free-throw line at the 35-minute mark, completing an 8-0 scoring sequence that pushed the advantage to 78-60—their largest lead of the game.
Despite Tenerife's efforts to mount a comeback, the Spanish side could not significantly reduce the deficit. Galatasaray's balanced scoring attack and cohesive team defense limited Tenerife's opportunities to gain momentum. The final minutes saw the Turkish club expertly manage their advantage, ultimately securing the 90-80 victory.
Ebuka Izundu delivered a stellar performance, leading all scorers with 28 points while demonstrating efficiency around the basket. Will Cummings added 21 points and several key assists, while James Palmer Jr. contributed 15 points, including crucial three-pointers that shifted momentum at pivotal moments.
For La Laguna Tenerife, Giorgi Shermadini topped the scoring chart with 17 points, followed by Thomas Scrubb with 14 and Luis Costa with 13. Despite their strong shooting performance, connecting on 56% of their field goal attempts compared to Galatasaray's 48%, the Spanish side couldn't overcome Galatasaray's advantages in rebounding (35-29) and assists (13-12).
This victory represents the continuation of a breakthrough campaign for Galatasaray, who reached their first BCL Final Four after sweeping ERA Nymburk in the quarter-finals. As just the third Turkish team to reach the semi-finals in nine BCL seasons, Galatasaray now has the opportunity to become the first club from Türkiye to claim the championship.
"We showed really good character on the court in this game, and I'm proud of my teammates," said Galatasaray guard Goksenin Koksal. "We still have one more game, but I hope we will get this cup and we will be champions because I think we are the best team in the Champions League."
The semi-final contest attracted notable basketball figures, including Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman, who attended alongside his son Sarp Ataman and Galatasaray's basketball board member Can Natan.
Galatasaray will face the winner of the second semi-final between Greek hosts AEK Betsson BC and defending champions Unicaja Malaga. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, May 11, at 8:00 PM local time (7:00 PM CEST) at the SUNEL Arena in Athens.
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