The final exotic Four that starts this Friday at Abu Dhabi will not have Spanish teams. The last time that happened was in 2004 And curiously it was in the only edition that was also held outside Europe, in Tel Aviv. No clubs from the Endesa League, They will be Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce (17.00 hours), on the one hand, and Olympiacos and Monaco (20.00 h), on the other, those who fight for the continental scepter. The kings of the East are sought.
Melih Mahmutoglu, Kostas Sloukas, Kostas Papanikolau and Mike James, captains of the four participants, with the Euroleague trophy.
The two Greek sets leave as favorites in their respective semifinals. In case the forecasts are confirmed, the first final between teams from the same country would be lived since 1983. The Hellenic basketball giants never saw themselves in the fight for the title. It would be a high -level party … and very high risk.
The basketball that is played in the Euroleague is now much better than that of the NBA
The Panathinaikos defends title And there is no set with more stories around. That of Ergin Ataman, who can win his fourth Euroleague in five seasons. “The basketball that is played in the Euroleague is now much better than that of the NBA. Many people are stopping it in Europe to follow the Euroleague. What comes in the future is not my job, ”said the technician in reference to the future of continental basketball, with NBA landing in Europe as a recurring matter in conversations. It is a matter of debate in Abu Dhabi.
The stories of the champion
Athenians arrive with the veteran of Kostas sloukaswith the MVP award from Kendrick Nunn and with Juancho Hernangómez, our ambassador to the Final Four. It could be the first Spanish who wins two titles in a row for the first time in 57 years. No one has done it since 1968, when Real Madrid repeated being in its ranks José Ramón Ramos, Emilian Mathias Lessort's doubtwhich has been off the left fibula for five months. To put a player without rhythm even if it is the best pivot in Europe?
An image of the Arena Dhabi Arena Etihad, where the Final Four will be played.
Opposite, the Fenerbahce of Sarunas Jasikevicius, specialist in reaching the final Four … and not winning it. He conquered four as a player, but as a coach will be his sixth attempt, the fifth followed, something that only Zeljko Obradovic and Dimitris Itoudis had done. “It's more difficult as a coach. As a player you are responsible for yourself. You have to prepare and it's simple: you train, do your work and go home. As a coach there are many responsibilities Because you have the media, your coaching staff, the club … “.
The curse of the regular season champion
The Olympiacos comes to the appointment with a curse behind him: the champion of the regular season never wins. But, at the same time, who eliminated Madrid in rooms always lifted the title. One of the gusts will break. What will weigh the most? For quality, those of El Pireo should not fear anything or anyone. Its template is deep, experienced and with enormous quality, with Sasha timeenkov and Evan Fournier in front.
My love for Olympiacos is undeniable and will be forever, but for 40 minutes we will be rivals
Monaco starts as the applicant with less tradition and perhaps the weakestalthough it has plenty of muscle. His coach, Vassilis Spanoulis, opens in a Four Four by measuring Olympiacos, a team in which he was an idol: “My love for Olympiacos is undeniable and will be foreverbut for 40 minutes we will be rivals. ”There is no place for friendship or for romanticism when it is at stake to win a Euroleague.
