The force of nature that is Walter "Edy" Tavares is the MVP of the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four after leading Real Madrid to the championship. 

Edy Tavares crowned as Final Four MVP

The force of nature that is Walter "Edy" Tavares is the MVP of the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four after leading Real Madrid to the championship. Tavares posted double-doubles in both games at the Final Four in Kaunas and in doing so became the first player with three double-doubles in the modern era of the Final Four.

The 2.20-meter center posted 13 points and 10 rebounds in the 78-79 victory over Olympiacos Piraeus after roaring with 20 points, 13 boards and 4 blocks as his team upended archrival FC Barcelona 66-78 in the semifinal. Tavares led all players in Kaunas in rebounds (25) and blocks (4), while coming in second in scoring (33 points). His average PIR of 29.5 was also the best at the Final Four.

Walter Tavares | Final Four MVP | 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

The award caps another magnificent season for the 31-year-old from Cabo Verde. Tavares was selected to the All-EuroLeague First Time for the third time and also chosen as the EuroLeague Best Defender for the third time. He set the single-season record for blocked shots with 88 and most importantly of all, was at his best with the season on the line. Tavares was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP for April and May and now the MVP of the Final Four.

Game Videos

Edy Tavares crowned as Final Four MVP 

Olympiacos Piraeus v Real Madrid (2023-05-21T17:00:00.000Z)

NBA veteran Kristaps Porzingis made sure to come from his native Latvia to witness the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game on Sunday in Kaunas, Lithuania. Porzingis drove a few hours from home to Kaunas to take a courtside seat for Sunday night's finale between Olympiacos Piraeus and Real Madrid. Porzingis started his professional basketball career with Baloncesto Sevilla and was chosen as the 2014-15 EuroCup Rising Star before heading to the NBA, where he became a superstar. Porzingis took the time to talk about the big occasion while waiting for the Championship Game to start.

PORZINGIS.mp4

Kristaps Porzingis sat courtside for the Championship Game

Of course, the main ingredient of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's renowned basketball passion is the fans themselves, and they are out in force before Sunday's title game at Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas.

In sheer numbers, the championship game is set to tilt in the direction of a home game for Olympiacos Piraeus, whose fans have come from far and wide with an estimated 8,000 supports decked out in the team's cherry-red colors.

The Olympiacos hordes were gathered in central Kaunas early in the afternoon to make their way together to Zalgirio Arena, but they were already in full voice singing their songs and chants for the basketball lovers in town for the Final Four to enjoy.

Olympiacos fans warming up for the EuroLeague Championship Game in Kaunas

Though fewer in numbers, the Real Madrid faithful scattered around the city were just as passionate about their team and its chances to lift the club's 11th trophy. 

Real Madrid fans in Kaunas before the EuroLeague Championship Game

Both groups of fans are soon to converge at Zalgirio Arena to lend the kind of boisterous atmosphere that is unique to EuroLeague games in what is the culmination of a season with record-breaking attendance for the competition.

In a basketball-first city at the top of Europe, one or the other will taste glory on Sunday night, but the Final Four has already won with fans like these showing how much they love the game.

Olympiacos, Real Madrid fans are bringing the passion


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Third-Place Game: Monaco gets first Final Four win

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2023-05-21T14:00:00.000Z)

There are three things that are special about May 21, 2013 for Isaiah Canaan. One is that he will play in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game for the first time. Another is that it will likely be his final game of the season, since Canaan is not registered to play in the Greek League. And the third is that he is celebrating his 32nd birthday.

To help him celebrate his birthday, the Olympiacos Piraeus family surprised Canaan with a birthday cake at lunch. Check out the video!

Olympiacos surprises Canaan with a birthday cake

Before the final, Olympiacos surprises Canaan with a birthday cake

It's Championship Sunday at the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. Everyone has thoughts on what could, should or might happen when Olympiacos Piraeus and Real Madrid take the floor at Zalgirio Arena at 19:00 CEST.

We asked a few people who know a thing or two about playing and winning at the Final Four what they think or would like to see happen tonight.

"It will be super interesting, it will be very physical", said Patrick Femerling, a 2003 champion with FC Barcelona. "I think the key matchup is Tavares against Fall underneath the basket. If Olympiacos can contain Tavares and maybe get him in foul trouble…it will be very important for them to keep him busy."

Jonas Maciulis predicts the Championship Game

Kaunas native Jonas Maciulis, who won the 2015 title with Real Madrid, has his personal favorite.

"I expect to see a good game, a good fight, and I expect and hope Real Madrid will win," said Maciulis who has a recipe for Los Blancos' success.

"Keep the veterans fresh until the end," Maciulis added. "Experience is on Real Madrid's side, in these games it means a lot, and I am expecting that experience today will gonna win."

Another former Zalgiris and Real player, Rimas Kaukenas, also picked their former side.

"I think Real Madrid will win and Tavares will be MVP," said Kaukenas. "I think they are in good momentum, have very good senior motivation and emotionally are going into the final feeling very good about themselves."

Ibrahim Kutluay predicts the Championship Game

The assistant general manager of Zalgiris, Paulius Jankunas, and 2002 EuroLeague champion Ibrahim Kutluay, both tried to sit on the fence before ultimately picking a winner.

"I think Olympiacos finally is ready to win after last year’s loss in the semi. But Madrid showed that it has so much experience," Jankunas analyzed.

"Olympiacos played well in the second half of the semifinal and Real Madrid has great experience for this type of game. I believe it will be a nice game to watch," Kutluay commented.

When pushed, Jankunas cited his friendship with Olympiacos guard Thomas Walkup as a reason to choose the Reds and Kutluay predicted a Real victory.

Paulius Jankunas predicts the Championship Game

Rimantas Kaukenas predicts the Championship Game

Former players predict tonight's winner


Championship Sunday at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four is a big day for any basketball fan. For Real Madrid, it’s an opportunity to add more trophies to the cupboard. Not just one, but two.

While Real Madrid's biggest stars are preparing to take on Olympiacos Piraeus at Zalgirio Arena for EuroLeague glory, Los Blancos’ future stars are competing for the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals championship game at Kaunas Sports Hall.

Such days don't come around very often and when they do, it is a mark of great pride for all involved. The type of hard work and dedication needed to produce an elite juniors team pays off when it feeds top-tier talent to the senior team such as former EuroLeague MVP Luka Doncic in the past and currently teenage big man Eli Ndiaye, who started in the semifinal victory on Friday.

As a show of support for the club's young guns, many Real heroes of the past are in the stands for the ANGT Finals championship game, including Emiliano Rodriguez, Cliiford Luyk, Felipe Reyes, junior teams manager Alberto Angulo and basketball director Alberto Herreros.

Real legends turn out to support their side at ANGT Final

Among those most attracted to attending the Final Four are the very players who have been on center stage at the same event in the past – and even won the EuroLeague title, some of them multiple times. Many have come back from around the world as Final Four Ambassadors to support in One Team and sustainability initiatives in Kaunas this weekend. [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net) talked to Mike Batiste, Sofoklis Schortsanitis and Matjaz Smodis – who have lifted the trophy seven times between them – about their learning curve at the Final Four and what it takes to win it all and reach the final glory.

[· Ambassadors look back at their Final Four experiences](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ambassadors-look-back-at-their-final-four-experiences/) 

· [Ambassadors praise super-intense season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/final-four-ambassadors-praise-super-intense-season/)

Final Four Ambassadors: What it takes

One of the main activities EuroLeague FanZone at Unity Square in Kaunas for Final Four weekend was the Saturday night concert featuring two popular Lithuanian artists, [Beatrich](https://www.instagram.com/beatrich/) and [DJ Jovani](https://www.instagram.com/dj_jovani/).

A crowd of 3,000 gathered before the main stage of the FanZone ready to dance the night away when Beatrich hit the stage wearing a full-on Zalgiris Kaunas uniform to roaring approval from the audience.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And a final message for all the fans who came to the show🙌 <a href="https://t.co/UVpb3FoNxj">pic.twitter.com/UVpb3FoNxj</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1660000480620052481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

During one hour, Beatrich delivered a set of her infectious pop tunes as the night fell on Unity Square, and the crowd was into it!

After Beatrich's set it was the turn for popular DJ Jovani, who unleashed a blistering one-hour session on a FanZone crowd that could not have enough of him. In the end, the crowd was left chanting for more music, but unfortunately, DJ Jovani had to put an end to the session.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thanks everyone for making this a night to remember🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://t.co/S5By5HNtGF">pic.twitter.com/S5By5HNtGF</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1660019999077957632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The two shows sent the crowd into the Kaunas night with a smile and ready to extend the party elsewhere on the eve of the EuroLeague Championship Game at the Zalgirio Arena.

Edy Tavares crowned as Final Four MVP

Kristaps Porzingis sat courtside for the Championship Game

Olympiacos, Real Madrid fans are bringing the passion

Third-Place Game: Monaco gets first Final Four win

Before the final, Olympiacos surprises Canaan with a birthday cake

Former players predict tonight's winner

Real legends turn out to support their side at ANGT Final

Final Four Ambassadors: What it takes

Beatrich and DJ Jovani draw a crowd of 3,000 at the FanZone