Olympiakos and Real Madrid faced each other in the final of the organization held in Athens, the capital of Greece.
Real Madrid, which started the match effectively and hit 3 shots from outside, was ahead 15-3 in the 4th minute. Olympiacos quickly recovered and went on a 9-0 streak, reducing the difference to 3 in the 6th minute: 12-15. The Spanish team reopened the gap, especially with the baskets they scored from fast breaks, and finished the first period ahead 26-19, with Lyles scoring 13 points.
In the second quarter, Real Madrid increased the difference to double digits in the 11th minute with Abalde’s 3-point field goal: 19-29. Olympiacos did not give up the fight and forced the Spanish representative to take outside shots, and took the lead in the 18th minute with the scoring contribution of the players who joined the game from the sidelines: 38-36. While both teams scored baskets from behind the 3-point line in the remaining period, the Greek team went to the locker room with a 46-44 advantage thanks to Peters’s shot under the basket as time expired.
The second half of the match started with mutual baskets. In this mostly balanced period, Real Madrid finished the 24th minute trailing 54-50, and with a 10-0 run, they brought the score to 60-54 in the 27th minute. Although Olympiacos reduced the difference to 1 point, the Spanish representative scored from the free throw line and finished the third quarter ahead 65-61.
The fourth and final period witnessed great excitement. At the beginning of the quarter, both teams made hits from outside shots. In this period, which witnessed a neck-and-neck struggle and the scoring advantage changed hands several times, Olympiacos gained the upper hand in the 35th minute and gained an 8-point lead with 36 seconds left: 88-80. Real Madrid, who took good advantage of the Greek team’s mistakes and scored consecutive points, could not take advantage of the opportunity to equalize the score with 13 seconds left, and Olympiacos won the match 92-85 and became the champion.
Lounge: Telecom Center
Referees: Sreten Radovic (Croatia), Robert Lottermoser (Germany), Olegs Latisevs (Latvia)
Olympiacos: Walkup 10, Dorsey 1, Papanikolaou, Vezenkov 12, Milutinov 8, Ward 7, Hall 4, Fournier 20, Peters 16, Jones 4, Joseph 5, McKissic 5
Real Madrid: Campazzo 5, Abalde 9, Hezonja 19, Lyles 24, Okeke, Maledon 8, Deck 4, Feliz 13, Llull 3
1st Period: 19-26
Circuit: 46-44
3rd Period: 61-65
