ALBA Berlin finally tasted victory again as it fought off Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 87-93 in Round 24 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in Belgrade to snap its 10-game losing streak

ALBA finally wins again, beats Maccabi to snap 10-game skid

ALBA Berlin finally tasted victory again as it fought off Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 87-93 in Belgrade to snap its 10-game losing streak. ALBA went on a 6-20 surge spanning the final two quarters to build up a big enough cushion to register its first win since December 4. ALBA improved to 4-20 in beating Maccabi for just the third time in 22 games - snapping a skid of six straight losses to the Israeli side since the last victory on November 25, 2021.

Yanni Wetzell scored a career-high 22 points, Malte Delow also hit a personal best of 14 points while Martin Hermannsson collected 11 points and 11 assists, tying the club record for most assists in a game. ALBA ended up with 31 assists, which tied the club record for a single game. Maccabi dropped to 6-18 and missed a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Israel champs have lost 10 of their last 12 games. Tamir Blatt had 16 points and 9 assists against his former team and Roman Sorkin added 14 points in the defeat.

Game Videos

After Maccabi jumped ahead 5-0 to start the game, Tim Schneider drained a pair of triples to help ALBA tie it up 8-8. Jasiel Rivero converted Maccabi's second three-point play in a 7-0 burst to go up 15-8. Wetzell came off the bench for 6 points at the other end to get within 17-14. The score was 22-19 after 10 minutes.

Louis Olinde’s basket to start the second quarter cut the deficit to 22-21. Blatt’s second triple temporarily pushed the lead back to 6 points at 29-23. Wetzell and ALBA’s 20-year-old Elias Rapieque kept the visitors close at 39-37. ALBA finally knotted the game at 42-42 and trailed 48-46 at halftime.

Game News

Maccabi was already playing without leading scorer Jaylen Hoard and had to play the second half without Rokas Jokubaitis, who went out with an ankle injury. ALBA got a three-pointer from Matteo Spagnolo to tie it and Delow gave the visitors their first lead of the game 51-53. Wetzell’s seventh basket had ALBA up 54-57. Maccabi evened the game with a triple but watched as ALBA went on a 2-13 run to open a 59-70 lead. The home side tallied the final 4 points and was down 63-70 after 30 minutes.

Delow continued his strong game with 5 points as ALBA had the first 7 points of the final frame to lead 63-77 before Maccabi finally scored after 2 minutes played. The lead grew to 65-81 with more than 6 minutes to play. Maccabi was not ready to surrender with Marial Shayok hitting back-to-back triples and Will Rayman added a three-pointer to make it 78-85 with under 4 minutes to go. Shayok made things even closer with another triple as ALBA led only 85-88. After David McCormack answered, Tim Schneider blocked a Shayok triple and Wetzell sealed the win with a dunk with 16 seconds to go.

ALBA registers just third victory over Maccabi in 22 games 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v ALBA Berlin (2025-01-30T19:05:00.000Z)

Trent Forrest hit the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left. 


Forrest lifts Baskonia past Barca, 88-86! 

In a thriller that literally came down to the last shot, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz edged FC Barcelona 88-86 at Buesa Arena in Round 24 on Thursday. Baskonia improved to 10-14 in the standings while Barca dropped to 13-11. 

Chima Moneke led the winners with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Trent Forrest added 15 points, including the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds remaining. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Kamar Baldwin and Donta Hall each scored 11 points for Baskonia. 

Chimezie Metu paced Barca with 14 points. Kevin Punter added 13, Dario Brizuela, Tomas Satoransky and Willy Hernangomez each had 11 while Juan Nunez and Jabari Parker got 10 apiece for the visitors.

Baldwin got Baskonia going with a layup off a steal. Satoransky matched him with a jumper and fed Parker for a backdoor layup. Luwawu-Cabarrot scored down low and Baldwin added a jumper. Punter and Satoransky each struck from downtown to give the visitors a 6-10 lead. Satoransky kept pacing Barca with a fastbreak slam before Luwawu-Cabarrot and Forrest each scored in penetration to bring Baskonia within 10-12. After Punter hit a jumper, Satoransky erased Moneke's dunk with a floater. Alex Abrines joined the three-point shootout and Parker swished a turnaround jumper. Moneke and Donta Hall brought their team closer, 19-23. Luka Samanic took over with a backdoor layup and Hall's one-handed put-back slam tied it at 23-23. Hernangomez dunked at the other end for a 23-25 Barca lead after 10 minutes.

 

Hall's big block on Hernangomez allowed Samanic to score at the other end. Brizuela struck from beyond the arc and added a three-point play to give Barca fresh air at 25-31. Metu added a layup-plus-foul in a 0-12 run that he capped with a triple. Hall stepped up with a three-point play and Samanic's layup gave Baskonia hope at 30-37. Forrest capped a 7-0 run with a driving basket. After Metu beat the shot clock with an off-balance jumper, Brizuela made a three-pointer and Parker's layup prompted the hosts to call timeout at 32-44. Forrest scored again and Nikos Rogkavopoulos struck twice from downtown in a 12-0 run that Moneke capped with a put-back layup to even things at 44-44. Punter's jumper gave Barca a 44-46 edge at halftime.

Baldwin nailed a step-back jumper soon after the break and Khalida Diop's dunk tied it at 48-48. Moneke improved on Hernangomez's layup with a triple that gave Baskonia a 51-50 edge. Satoransky nailed a turnaround jumper and Hernangomez erased Baldwin's layup with a floater for a 53-54 Barca lead. Baldwin struck from downtown before Luwawu-Cabarrot scored in the paint to make it 58-54. After Hernangomez stepped up with a three-point play, Abrines and Luwawu-Cabarrot traded triples. Metu gave Barca a 61-62 edge. Moneke got help from Markus Howard to put Baskonia back in charge, 65-64, after three quarters.

Moneke ignited the crowd with a coast-to-coast layup early in the fourth quarter. Metu buried a jump hook and Parker dunked to provide another lead change, 67-68. Forrest took over with a wild driving layup, which Hall followed with a dunk that made it a 4-point game. Nunez hit a floater in the lane and Brizuela erased Hall's tip-in from the foul line. Hernangomez finished a three-chance Barca offense with a tip-in. Forrest and Nunez each struck from beyond the arc to even things at 78-78. Howard fed Forrest for a fastbreak slam and buried a triple that gave his team an 83-80 lead. Metu sank a jump hook that Moneke bettered with a bomb from downtown that caused Barca to call timeout at 86-82 with 48.2 seconds left. Nunez scored in penetration and after a defensive stop, Punter sank a jumper that tied it at 86-86 with 3.5 seconds left. That left just enough time for Forrest to make a one-handed jumper in the lane to win the game!

Trent Forrest hit the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left


Trent Forrest lifts Baskonia past Barcelona, 88-86

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v FC Barcelona (2025-01-30T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Basketball romped to an 82-97 win at Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 24, with Nick Weiler-Babb, Andreas Obst and Carsen Edwards combining to devastating effect.

Bayern’s three-pronged monster wreaked havoc against Zalgiris

Just a couple of weeks ago, [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/) head coach Gordie Herbert declared that [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) is “[the best all-around player in Germany](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nick-weiler-babb-returned-in-style-as-bayern-downed-monaco-for-very-first-time/)”. The 29-year-old showed in Round 24 on Thursday night just why.

Weiler-Babb did a bit of everything as [Bayern thrashed Zalgiris Kaunas 82-97](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nick-weiler-babb-masterminds-bayerns-offensive-clinic-at-zalgiris-82-97/), finishing with a season-high 34 PIR after posting 14 points, a career-high 13 assists, and tying his season high in rebounds with 7. He also had 2 steals and finished with zero turnovers, despite those 13 dimes.

For the entire night, Weiler-Babb was playing the role of puppet master, dictating the play and finding his teammates with ease. Even when he wasn’t credited with an assist, he was central to everything good from a Bayern perspective.

Zalgiris simply had no answer for the Germany international, and the same can be said for Bayern’s two electric scorers – [Andreas Obst](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andreas-obst/004508/) and [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/).

Edwards took a little while to get going, scoring just 3 points in the first quarter, but in the absence of the injured [Shabazz Napier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shabazz-napier/011224/), he knew that he would need to step up. A further 8 points came in the second, before he added another 13 to his tally in the third to sit on 24 points entering the final period. As it turned out, that was his night done.

Why? Bayern held a 12-point advantage after 30 minutes, leading 59-71, and it had another trick up its sleeve: the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s answer to Stephen Curry, Mr. Obst.

Having already [broken the EuroLeague record for most three-pointers made](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/andreas-obst-breaks-the-euroleague-single-game-record-for-three-pointers-made/) in a game with 11 back in Round 11, it looked like Obst might be on course for a spectacular finish inside Zalgirio Arena. 

With Weiler-Babb finding him with delightful passes, Obst – who entered the fourth period on 11 points, having made 3-of-4 threes – went a perfect 4 for 4 in a little over four minutes to begin the final frame. That helped turn a 59-71 lead into a 68-86 margin, which all but put the game to bed.

Obst did begin to cool off a little afterward, going 1 for 4 in the remainder of the fourth to finish 8 for 12, but his presence on the floor and Weiler-Babb’s vision were causing the Zalgiris defenders to quake in their boots.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This two! 🤩 <a href="https://twitter.com/nickbabb12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nickbabb12</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/Cboogie_3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cboogie_3</a> <a href="https://t.co/mb5Mlv7RGs">pic.twitter.com/mb5Mlv7RGs</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1885069816559497365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bayern eventually came away with an 82-97 victory, with Zalgiris – the No. 1 defense in the EuroLeague – giving up its second most points this season. Coach Herbert’s men, however, have now scored 97 points in seven different games this season and in back-to-back games, having erupted for 99 in an 84-99 derby win at ALBA Berlin last week.

With just 10 games to go in the regular season, Bayern is looking a good bet for a place in the postseason – and its three-pronged offensive monster of Weiler-Babb, Obst and Edwards are a big reason why.

Nick Weiler-Babb, Andreas Obst and Carsen Edwards could not be stopped

Zalgiris Kaunas v FC Bayern Munich (2025-01-30T18:00:00.000Z)

Nick Weiler-Babb was at the heart of everything good for FC Bayern Basketball as it beat Zalgiris Kaunas 82-97 in Round 24 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Nick Weiler-Babb masterminds Bayern’s offensive clinic at Zalgiris, 82-97

There was no stopping FC Bayern Munich’s offense at Zalgirio Arena on Thursday night as Gordie Herbert’s squad romped to an 82-97 victory at Zalgiris Kaunas to kick off the Round 24 fun. This is the seventh time this season that Bayern has scored 97 points or more, and the second game in succession after grabbing an 84-99 win at ALBA Berlin last week.

Bayern, riding a two-game winning streak, led by 12 entering the fourth was up by as many as 18 in the final 51 seconds. The German side improved to 14-10, while Zalgiris lost its third straight and is 1-7 over its last eight, with the team falling to an 11-13 mark. The 97 points scored by Bayern are the second most Zalgiris has given up all season long.

Nick Weiler-Babb starred with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists, Andreas Obst netted 8 threes en route to 26 points, and Carsen Edwards finished with 24. Devin Booker netted 13, too. Sylvain Francisco scored a career-high 33 points in a losing effort.

Lonnie Walker, who had 6 points, 2 assists and 4 steals, went out with a knee injury in the second quarter but returned later in the same period, before appearing to reaggravate his injury with four minutes left in the third. He saw out the remainder of the game from the sidelines.

After Bayern opened a 2-8 lead with baskets by Weiler-Babb, Booker and Vladimir Lucic, Francisco and Edgaras Ulanovas knocked down two threes to tie things up at 8-8. Ulanovas then gave Zalgiris its first lead at 11-10, but Oscar da Silva, Obst and Booker combined to give the visitors a 14-19 edge. Deividas Sirvydis and Alen Smailagic hit back for the hosts to cut the gap to one point, 18-19, but Edwards’s three meant it was 18-22 at the end of the first period.

Obst’s fast-break three early in the second gave Bayern an 18-25 edge, but there was concern inside the arena as Walker was down clutching his knee, with the Zalgiris guard having to be helped to the bench by Ulanovas and Dunston. Once play resumed, Edwards started finding his rhythm by scoring five points in a hurry to make it 22-30. It was then Weiler-Babb’s turn to take over, scoring five points in a row to open a 25-35 lead. Walker returned with 4:02 remaining, but he fouled Edwards on a layup, with the Bayern scorer turning it into a three-point play for a 25-38 advantage. Da Silva and Niels Giffey helped swell the lead to 29-45, but Francisco’s layup ensured it was 31-45 at the break.

Tough words were said by Andrea Trinchieri towards his players before the second half, and the introduction of Laurynas Birutis, who didn’t play in the first half, gave Zalgiris a boost. A 7-2 run to start the third period, capped by a three-point play by Birutis, instilled hope among the Zalgiris fans at 38-47, but Edwards and Weiler-Babb combined to keep the hosts at bay, 48-58. Edwards struck his second three in quick succession to give Bayern a 48-61 lead, yet there was more concern among the Zalgiris fans as Walker hobbled back after suffering a recurrence of his injury. He wouldn’t play again in the game. Ulanovas’s four-point play and an Arnas Butkevicius triple made it interesting at 55-63, but a couple of Obst threes put Bayern 57-71 up before Bryant Dunston’s offensive rebound and finish set a 59-71 score after 30 minutes.

Obst started the final frame with a three, and that was a sign of things to come. He went a perfect 4 for 4 inside the opening 4:02 minutes of the fourth quarter, and 7 for 8 in the game, as Bayern’s lead ballooned to 68-86. Francisco was offering a sign of resistance for Zalgiris, hitting threes of his own, but with Weiler-Babb running the offense with such dominance, the writing was on the wall. Zalgiris could only get as close as 14 the rest of the way, with Obst’s eighth triple on 11 attempts – he would miss another – giving Bayern a 79-97 lead with 51 seconds remaining. Bayern saw out the final seconds with ease as it came away with an 82-97 win.

The hosts gave up their second-highest points total this season

Two of the EuroLeague's most exciting players go head to head in Round 24, as Paris Basketball's TJ Shorts comes up against LDLC ASVEL's Theo Maledon in a battle between the MVP of the Month for October and the MVP of the Month for December.

TJ Shorts, Theo Maledon collide in must-watch all-French derby

There is always loads of excitement when two domestic teams face off in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, and that certainly is the case when [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) welcomes [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/) on Thursday night in the French capital. And that’s despite their rivalry going back only three years.

It's not just because both Paris (13-9) and ASVEL (11-12) have been among the most exciting teams to watch this season, and are both in the midst of the race for the EuroLeague Playoffs, but this game will also feature a showdown between two of the EuroLeague’s best point guards this season, Paris’s [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) and ASVEL’s [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">« C’est la France frère 🇫🇷 »<br>Demain, on affronte <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LDLCASVEL</a> à la maison pour une revanche qui s’annonce BOUILLANTE en <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> 🔥<br><br>Dernières 🎟️ en vente ici : <a href="https://t.co/aK0pJIO3ca">https://t.co/aK0pJIO3ca</a> <a href="https://t.co/sUb7A1cSCX">pic.twitter.com/sUb7A1cSCX</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1884628354898239829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Let’s start with Shorts. The EuroLeague’s October MVP ranks fourth in scoring with 18.4 points per game, second in assists with 7.4 per game and fourth in index rating with 22.1 per contest.

On the other hand, there is Maledon. The MVP for December, who is third in average PIR at 22.3, enters this game sixth in scoring with 18.0 points per game and is just outside the top 10 with his averages of 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals.

Paris's TJ Shorts and ASVEL's Theo Maledon fight for possession on the floor during their teams' Round 15 matchup earlier this season.

The two have also been an example of consistency. Maledon has scored at least 15 points in 14 of his last 15 games, and has posted a double-digit PIR in 15 straight games. Shorts has scored in double figures in 14 straight and 20 of his 21 EuroLeague appearances. He has had a PIR of 10 or more in 14 straight games.

What’s even better, when these two teams met earlier this season in Round 15, both players shined.

[ASVEL pulled out a 98-93 to end Paris's 10-game winning streak](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-ends-paris-unbeaten-run-in-all-french-rivalry-series-thriller-98-93/), with Maledon collecting 22 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, good for a PIR of 30. On the other side, Shorts set his personal bests with 29 points and 11 two-pointers made, which came on 14 attempts. He also dished 8 assists and had a personal-high PIR of 41.

In the EuroLeague, every game matters, but a win in this one would mean a lot to each club.

After a terrific start to the season, Paris pulled out of its recent slump and has won its last two home games, while it has scored at least 86 points in each of the last three rounds.

ASVEL, however, has won in three of the last four rounds and has been victorious in three of its last four road games after opening the season 0-7 on the road.

A rivalry between Paris and ASVEL might be fresh, having started in November 2021 with their first-ever French League clash, but it has quickly grown into a EuroLeague derby we cannot wait to tip off.

Thursday night brings another all-French derby and a clash of two MVP candidates

Paris Basketball v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-01-30T19:30:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv is set to play without its most productive player as Jaylen Hoard is set to be sidelined with a torn hamstring. Hoard suffered the injury in a domestic league game over the weekend, and an MRI scan reveled the extent of the injury which is expected to force Hoard to miss two to four weeks.

Maccabi loses Jaylen Hoard to hamstring injury

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv will be without its most productive player as [Jaylen Hoard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaylen-hoard/006835/) has suffered a torn hamstring, the club announced Wednesday. Hoard suffered the injury in a domestic league game over the weekend, and an MRI scan revealed the extent of the injury, which is expected to force Hoard to miss 2-4 four weeks.

Hoard has started 21 games in this, his first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, and is Maccabi’s top scorer (15.0 ppg.) and rebounder (5.1 rpg.)- He also leads the team in steals (1.3 spg.). Hoard ranks fourth in the league in steals this season and his average PIR of 18.1 is good for 11th place after 23 rounds.

Maccabi will face ALBA Berlin on Thursday without Hoard and will be without him when it visits FC Barcelona and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz next week before the February international break.

Hoard had a double-digit PIR in 22 of his 23 appearances this season.

This week's EuroLeague & Friends episode focuses on the upcoming Belgrade derby between KK Partizan and KK Crvena zvezda, with the panel featuring Giulia Cicchine from Italy, Aleksandra Radivojevic from Serbia, Vasiliki Karamouza from Greece, and Lona Jackson from France. 

EuroLeague & Friends episode No. 14 previews the Belgrade derby and more

Episode 14 of EuroLeague & Friends has landed, with this week's lineup featuring [Giulia Cicchine](https://www.instagram.com/lacicchine/) from Italy, [Aleksandra Radivojevic](https://www.instagram.com/amazing__alex/) from Serbia, [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://www.instagram.com/vasiliki_karamouza/) from Greece, and [Lona Jackson](https://www.instagram.com/lonajackson_/?hl=en) from France. Taking center stage this week is Friday night's upcoming derby between [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) and [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/). Enjoy!

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-01-31T19:30:00.000Z)

The 18th episode of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast, featuring Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs of Euroleague.net and Vasiliki Karamouza of Sport 24, is here to help fantasy managers get ready for Round 24 of the EuroLeague campaign. 

The Belgrade derby dominates in episode No. 18 of the Fantasy Challenge Podcast

The 18th episode of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast, featuring [Javier Gancedo](https://x.com/ganchetto) and [Frankie Sachs](https://x.com/MrEuroleague) of [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) and [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://x.com/karamouza_vas) of Sport 24, is here to help fantasy managers get ready for Round 24 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. 

They discussed the much anticipated derby between [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) and [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) and who are the must-have players from that game, [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/)'s impressive form of late, whether [Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/) is worth picking, and [Nikos Rogkavopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikolaos-rogkavopoulos/011085/)'s emergence, among many other topics.

Check out the moves Javi, Frankie and Vasiliki have made ahead of Round 24, including who they have as captains. This week’s action tips off on Thursday at 19:00 CET as [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) hosts [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/), so make sure to finalize your rosters by then. Good luck, fantasy fans!

Olympiacos Piraeus v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-01-31T19:15:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Real Madrid (2025-01-31T18:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-01-31T17:30:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-01-30T19:30:00.000Z)

Euroleague Basketball, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the Etihad Arena have signed an agreement to host the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for the first time in history. The deal, brokered by the League’s strategic partner IMG, marks a historic expansion of Euroleague Basketball into new global markets.

Abu Dhabi to host 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four

- The semifinals will be played on Friday 23 May at 19:00 and 22:00 local time; the third-place and championship games will take place on Sunday 25 May at 21:00 local time
- Tickets to go on sale on February 26

Euroleague Basketball, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the Etihad Arena have signed an agreement to host the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for the first time in history. The deal, brokered by the League’s strategic partner IMG, marks a historic expansion of Euroleague Basketball into new global markets.

"I would like to thank the city of Abu Dhabi for showing their confidence in Euroleague Basketball," said Dejan Bodiroga, President of Euroleague Basketball. "Bringing the Final Four to Abu Dhabi is an ambitious project and a remarkable opportunity to showcase the EuroLeague atmosphere to a new and diverse audience. At the same time, this partnership guarantees our loyal fans a fresh experience in one of the world's most modern and tourist-friendly cities. Together, we will deliver another top-level event that will elevate the EuroLeague to new heights."

The decision to bring the Final Four to Abu Dhabi builds on Euroleague Basketball's strategic ambition to expand into new markets, building on its 25-year legacy of success. By staging the Final Four in a new region, Euroleague Basketball aims to bring its passionate fan experience and Every Game Matters mantra to a broader global audience.

HE Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi has rapidly become the home for basketball in the Middle East, and we’re excited to welcome Euroleague Basketball to the emirate – and the region – for the very first time. A hub for sporting excellence, Abu Dhabi will offer fans a world-class experience at the Final Four events in Etihad Arena, providing a warm welcome and a diverse range of attractions and experiences in addition to the games themselves. We look forward to Euroleague finding new audiences here in Abu Dhabi and once again demonstrating the destination’s capability to host large-scale international sporting events.”

This arrangement strategically combines the new market of Abu Dhabi and the Middle East with the EuroLeague’s traditional pan-European venues. The Final Four will mark Euroleague Basketball’s second experience in the Middle East, following the successful Adidas NextGen Qualifier hosted in Dubai last season.

The state-of-the-art Etihad Arena, located on Abu Dhabi’s entertainment hub of Yas Island, will host the four best teams of the season, who will play in the semifinals on Friday 23 May at 19:00 and 22:00 local time. The third-place and championship games will be on Sunday 25 May at 18:00 and 21:00 local time. General public tickets, which provide seating for all four games, two on Friday and two on Sunday – will be available in several different price categories, starting on February 26.  Further details about ticket sales will be released in the coming days.

from left to right: H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak (Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Chairman), Paulius Motiejunas, Euroleague Basketball CEO, H.E. Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani (Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Undersecretary), Dejan Bodiroga (Euroleague Basketball President).

"This agreement represents a milestone for the EuroLeague and a significant step in our global growth strategy," said Paulius Motiejunas, CEO of Euroleague Basketball. "By partnering with Abu Dhabi, we are bringing our most iconic event to a dynamic new environment that offers world-class facilities and a passion for hosting major international sports events."

Matt Dwyer, SVP, Sports Management, IMG, added: “This game-changing deal is the largest in Euroleague Basketball’s history, expands the League’s global footprint, and creates exciting opportunities for continued growth. Abu Dhabi will provide a world-class Final Four experience for players, stakeholders, and EuroLeague fans, while introducing a whole new audience to the magic of European basketball.”

Abu Dhabi has quickly become one of the Middle East’s leading sports hubs. The city has hosted prominent international events, such as the FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2010), the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the Abu Dhabi World Triathlon Championship Series, and major UFC events, and is the home of the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Basketball has also gained momentum in the city, with Abu Dhabi hosting several NBA pre-season games and the USA Basketball Showcase, a friendly tournament featuring national teams from the USA, Serbia, and Australia.

Marcus Osborne, General Manager of Etihad Arena – Abu Dhabi, said “As the premier multi-purpose venue in the region, Etihad Arena is uniquely equipped to deliver an unforgettable Final Four experience. Our state-of-the-art facilities are designed to seamlessly adapt to world-class basketball events, creating an environment where the game comes alive for every fan. Having hosted numerous high-profile basketball games, we’ve seen firsthand how passionate our audience is, and we’re excited to see the venue welcome the best of European basketball to Abu Dhabi. We look forward to welcoming the teams, officials, and fans to Etihad Arena and showcase our commitment to offering an exceptional entertainment experience.”

Etihad Arena, with a basketball capacity of 12,000 spectators, is situated on the stunning Yas Bay waterfront, one of Abu Dhabi's premier tourist destinations. Since opening in 2021, Etihad Arena has rapidly established itself as a top-tier venue, hosting a wide array of sports events, including UFC bouts and NBA games, as well as concerts by internationally renowned artists.

from left to right: Paulius Motiejunas, Euroleague Basketball CEO, Ramunas Siskauskas (F4 Ambassador), H.E. Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani (Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Undersecretary), Rudy Fernández (F4 Ambassador), Vlade Divac (F4 Ambassador), H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak (Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Chairman), Dejan Bodiroga (Euroleague Basketball President), Toni Kukoc (F4 Ambassador), Dino Radja (F4 Ambassador), Theo Papaloukas (F4 Ambassador)

Yas Island’s state-of-the-art Etihad Arena will host the 2025 edition of the Final Four