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In the first semifinal, Olympiacos Piraeus surprisingly defeated CSKA Moscow. Proving once again that winning the Final Four is different from winning a round robin and even a playoff series, the Russian team has played badly its chance to win back the Euroleague. After the first few minutes of equilibrium, the Greek team started taking a lead at the end of the first quarter, ended 24-17, and from there it always remained in the lead. CSKA didn’t react and Olympiacos extended its advantage ending the first half 40-28. In the second half, again the Russian team was able to come back and the third quarter ended 53-36 for the Greek team. The fourth quarter was basically garbage time and the game ended 69-52 for Olympiacos.
The second semifinal was much more exciting. Initially, it was Regal FC Barcelona which took the lead, ending the first quarter 18-11. In the second quarter, however, there was a reaction by Real Madrid, which took the lead ending the first half 39-33. In the third quarter there was a reaction by Barcelona, which closed it again in the lead, this time 51-48. In the last minutes of the fourth quarter Real Madrid placed the decisive run that earned it the victory 74-67.
The final starts the way you’d expect, with aggressive defenses. Real Madrid is the team that takes the lead, especially thanks to a good percentage in 3-point shooting while Olympiacos Piraeus struggle with its offense. The advantage grows slowly minute by minute and the first quarter ends with the Spanish team ahead by 27-10. The second quarter starts with a 8-0 run for the Greek team. Real Madrid starts scoring again but now Olympiacos is into the game, largely thanks to its bench players. The Greek team is getting closer and closer and the first half ends with the Spanish team still in the lead but only for 41-37.
The second half of the final starts much better for Olympiacos Piraeus, which quickly ties the score on 45-45 and then takes the lead on 48-45. Real Madrid tries to react but the Greek team seems to have much more energy. There’s a symbolic action in which Mirotic goes alone on the fastbreak after a stolen ball but is blocked by Hines coming from behind. Olympiacos seems to have the game in its hands, instead slows down and Real Madrid comes back ahead on 66-65. Now the game is close, so much that the third quarter ends with a 61-61 tie. In the fourth quarter Olympiacos accelerates again and takes a new lead, which increases minute by minute. Real Madrid seems to have run out of energy and the situation mirrors that of the first quarter. The last desperate attempts of the Spanish team have no effects leading only to unnecessary hard fouls and Olympiacos repeats as the winner of the Euroleague winning the final 100-88.
Real Madrid has probably paid in the final the great effort of the hard-fought semi-final with its arch-rivals of Barcelona. This year Olympiacos Piraeus started its comeback in the final already in the second quarter so its victory is less surprising but winning two consecutive titles shows how strong this team is.
