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Fenerbahce Beko secured their place in the EuroLeague Final Four final Friday night, defeating Panathinaikos 82-76 at Etihad Arena in a hard-fought semifinal clash against former rival coach Ergin Ataman.
The Istanbul-based team, led by head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, controlled the game from the start, taking a commanding 22-14 lead after the first period. Fenerbahce maintained their advantage throughout the contest, leading 38-33 at halftime and extending to 55-48 after three quarters before securing the 82-76 victory.
Devon Hall emerged as a standout performer for Fenerbahce, connecting on multiple three-point attempts during crucial stretches of the game. Marko Guduric contributed with additional long-range shooting, while Wade Baldwin provided highlight-reel moments including a spectacular dunk that energized the Turkish supporters.
Panathinaikos, coached by Turkish tactician Ergin Ataman, saw their championship hopes end despite a determined performance. The Greek club had swept Fenerbahce during the regular season with two victories but could not complete the season series sweep when it mattered most in the single-elimination semifinal.
Ataman, who previously coached Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes to back-to-back EuroLeague titles, has faced intense criticism from Turkish basketball fans following his move to the Greek club. The veteran coach's return to face Turkish opposition added extra drama to an already high-stakes encounter.
The victory marks Fenerbahce's seventh Final Four appearance in the past decade and sets up their opportunity to capture the EuroLeague championship. The Turkish club will face either Olympiacos or Monaco in the final as they seek to replicate their 2017 EuroLeague triumph achieved on home soil in Istanbul.
This year's Final Four tournament represents a historic first, being held outside Europe at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena. Fenerbahce earned their spot in the UAE capital by finishing second in the regular season and completing a dominant 3-0 playoff sweep of Paris Basketball.
Key contributions came from several Fenerbahce players throughout the contest. Nicolo Melli delivered crucial plays in pivotal moments, while Errick McCollum and Dyshaen Pierre provided valuable scoring support to complement the team's balanced offensive attack.
The game was played before a capacity crowd at the Etihad Arena, with Fenerbahce wearing their traditional yellow-blue striped jerseys after arriving at the venue with enthusiastic fan support from Türkiye.
Meanwhile, after defeating Greece’s Olympiacos 78-68 in the EuroLeague Final Four on Friday, France’s Monaco advanced to the final and will face Fenerbahce Beko.
The championship game between Fenerbahce Beko and Monaco is set for Sunday, May 25, at 5 p.m. (GMT). The third-place match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos AKTOR will take place earlier that day at 2 p.m.
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