By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Another exciting season is in the books, with the Final Four wrapping up the 2023-24 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague between May 24 and 26.
Two teams from one country emerged as Panathinaikos Aktor and Olympiacos clinched a berth in 2024 Final Four. The Greek powerhouses share the court in the Final Four for the fifth time, but first over 12 years. Fenerbahce Beko and Real Madrid are also on track to compete for a championship on Sunday.
Before the season-ending tournament to crown the next EuroLeague champion in Berlin’s Uber Arena, Eurohoops selected the five best Final Four offerings. Choosing five was far from a simple task, especially considering a traditional lock in tight affairs and unforeseeable outcomes.
Final Four 2009 (Berlin)
When: May 3-5, 2009
Where: Berlin
1st: Panathinaikos (Greece)
2nd: CSKA (Russia)
3rd: FC Barcelona (Spain)
4th: Olympiacos (Greece)
MVP: Vassilis Spanoulis (15.5pts, 1ast, 1.5rbd, 11PIR)
Games: Olympiacos-Panathinaikos 82-84/FC Barcelona-CSKA 78-82/Olympiacos-FC Barcelona 79-95/Panathinaikos-CSKA 73-71
How can we overlook the Final Four in 2009? In Berlin, in the same venue as this year. Random. We will see. A semifinal between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos and a Greek triumph at the end.
These four teams presented enormous quality throughout the season. Huge names on all rosters.
Greens and Reds at O2 Arena shaped an epic battle. Panathinaikos edged out a win, 84-82, with Nikola Pekovic hitting the go-ahead bucket. Giannis Bourousis missed a game-tying shot, as did Josh Childress on the rebound.
The championship game was no exception. Panathinaikos collided with CSKA and ended up with a fifth EuroLeague title behind a 73-71 victory. Ramunas Siskauskas missing from beyond the arc sealed the win.