Name: “The 7th Star” is now available to watch on YouTube!
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

The biggest and best of the best will seek to shine in Abu Dhabi at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals with five past continental champions highlighting the eight-team field that includes two-time defending champion U18 Real Madrid

Real Madrid seeks NextGen EuroLeague three-peat with former champs standing in its way

The biggest and best of the best will seek to shine in Abu Dhabi at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals with five past continental champions highlighting the eight-team field that includes two-time defending champion U18 Real Madrid. The action will start on May 22 at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City with the 2025 winner to be crowned on May 25. All the games will be broadcast live and free of charge on Euroleague Basketball’s YouTube channel.

The record five-time winner Real slipped up in the qualifying but the Spanish side still must be dethroned as it looks for the competition’s first three-peat in 19 years. Four other past winners -  U18 Pole France INSEP Paris, U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, U18 FC Barcelona and U18 Mega Super Belgrade - will be looking to add another crown to their trophy cases. The other three teams competing for the 22nd NextGen EuroLeague title are host U18 Dubai Basketball, U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and U18 Overtime Elite.

The eight teams are broken down into two four-team groups with the clubs facing each of the others in their group in a round-robin style from May 22 to 24. Group A consists of Barcelona, Dubai, Mega and Milan while Group B is made up of INSEP, OTE, Real and Zalgiris. All three games played between Barcelona, Mega and Milan in Group A will be hotly contested while the absolute highlight of Group B will be Real facing INSEP - a repeat of last season’s NextGen Championship Game, which Real won 85-84 in overtime.

 

### Five of 11 past winners on hand

Five of the 11 clubs that have won the NextGen EuroLeague will be playing in Abu Dhabi, including eight of the last nine winners. Real is the record champion with five crowns -  2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024 - while U18 CSKA Moscow managed the only three-peat from 2004 to 2006. Zalgiris (2003 and 2007) and INSEP (2010 and 2017) are two of the other four teams with two continental trophies - along with U18 FMP Belgrade and U18 Rytas Vilnius. 2016 winner Barcelona and 2022 champ Mega will be looking to join the group of multiple title-holders.

 

### Breakdown of Group A

Barcelona will enter the tournament as one of the favorites. The Spanish powerhouse, which reached the NextGen Championship Game in 2008, 2013 and 2021, booked its ticket to Abu Dhabi by winning the NextGen Ulm qualifier. Barcelona, which will be playing in the Finals for the 12th time - including the last three - will be hungry to end its nine-year drought. It last triumphed in 2016 in Berlin. The team gained added confidence by winning the Spanish U18 domestic crown earlier this month.

Dubai will be competing in the Finals for the first time; the host team is participating in the competition for just the second time. Dubai, which received a wild card for the Finals, lost all four of its games at the NextGen Ulm tournament.

Mega has become a regular in the Finals, making it to the finale for a ninth straight edition. The Serbian side won the whole thing in 2022 and reached the championship game in 2017 and 2019. Mega claimed its berth for Abu Dhabi in December when it won the Istanbul qualifying tournament. Since then, Mega clinched its fourth straight U19 ABA League crown.

Milan is making back-to-back appearances - and third overall in addition to 2013-14 - after getting a wild card for the second straight season. The Italian club lost to INSEP in the first-place game of the Belgrade qualifier - a year after falling to Barcelona in the Belgrade first-place game. Milan, which won the U19 domestic league crown earlier in May, is hoping to become the first Italian club to win the NextGen EuroLeague. U18 Montepaschi Siena was the runner-up in 2004 and U18 Stella Azzurra Rome reached the championship game in 2018

 

### Group B breakdown

INSEP is another regular in the Finals, making its 10th appearance after clinching its spot by winning the Belgrade qualifier. The famed French academy will be looking to make good on its gut-wrenching loss to Real in last season’s championship game. And the opportunity will come on the final day of group action when it faces the Spanish powerhouse. 

Overtime Elite has received a wild card for the second straight Finals. The United States-based organization grabbed two victories in its debut in Berlin, knocking off Barcelona and U18 ALBA Berlin. The team will feature some of the best youth players in the USA.

Real will be coming to Abu Dhabi in a very uncommon state. First off, the team failed to win the Munich qualifying tournament to snap its streak of winning qualifiers at 11. That meant the Spanish giant needed a wild card to stay alive for its sixth continental crown. Another dent in Real’s armor was losing in the final of the U18 Spanish championship to Barcelona earlier this month.

Zalgiris is playing in the Finals for the 16th time. In addition to the titles in 2003 and 2007, the Lithuanian side finished second in 2005, 2006 and 2011. Zalgiris received a wild card for Abu Dhabi after giving Barcelona a strong fight in the first-place game at the NextGen Ulm tournament.

The 2025 NextGen EuroLeague Finals field includes five clubs that have already hoisted the trophy.

Ask Luigi Suigo who his inspiration was growing up and you might be surprised with his answer – the U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan big man was a major fan of James Harden. Fast-forward to 2025 and Suigo will be one of the top stars at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals, where Milan is a dark horse title contender. 

Milan big man Luigi Suigo grew up idolizing James Harden

Ask [Luigi Suigo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/luigi-suigo/012116/) who his inspiration was growing up and you might be surprised with his answer – the [U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/jmi/) big man was a major fan of James Harden. Fast-forward to 2025 and Suigo will be one of the top stars at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals, where Milan is a dark horse title contender. 

Suigo has seen a dramatic rise in his game in the past year, helping Milan defend its title in the recent U19 Italian League championship. The 2.20-meter center was named to the All-Tournament Team with a dominant performance, including a triple-double of 13 points, 13 boards and 12 blocks in the semifinals against College Borgomanero.

That gives Suigo and Milan confidence heading to Abu Dhabi for the NextGen Finals. 

“The goal is always to play at our best and be in the top two, and I think we need to be aware that we can do it,” Suigo told David Hein of the NextGen EuroLeague's website. 

The native of Tradate in the Varese province seems to be making up for lost time this season. In February, he was named the Most Valuable Player as Milan repeated its crown at the U19 Next Gen Cup. 

“I think we always had something more than the other teams and also the fact that I improved a lot helped me to do well,” he said. 

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2rsCTeIsff/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2rsCTeIsff/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2rsCTeIsff/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by LS (@luigisuigo19_)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

And then in March, he was a major contributor to Milan reaching the first place game of the NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade, where the Italian side lost 74-60 to U18 Pole France INSEP Paris. Suigo was in foul trouble throughout that game but still managed to finish with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.

“I remember that from the beginning we approached the game with fear of not being strong enough, which unfortunately limited us in staying in the game and falling behind by a lot,” said the big man, who averaged 12.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks during the tournament.

“The main thing I think we have understood is don't be afraid of anyone. We know the team we are and our capabilities and whatever team we are against we have to give our best.”

It shouldn’t a surprise any time Suigo flashes a smile when he is on the court. After all, he dealt with a heel problem that did not allow him to play team basketball for five years, from age seven to 12. During that time, he practiced Harden’s famous step-back shot.   

“Not being able to play was frustrating honestly because I've always loved basketball and not being able to play it made me sad for a while,” he admitted. And about Harden, he added: “I've always been fascinated by how he was unguardable from every point of view.”

Suigo moved to Varese shortly after playing again and then, in 2022 at age 15, he joined Milan to help improve his game. The improvement was steady and impressive and by early 2024, Milan gave Suigo a special present on January 28 – one day before his 17th birthday – by allowing him to make his Italian League debut. He even scored his first points in 2 minutes against Sassari on a buzzer beater.  

“It was a beautiful and unexpected moment that I will always carry with me,” he said. 

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJY4ajlMn3n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJY4ajlMn3n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJY4ajlMn3n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by LS (@luigisuigo19_)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Suigo’s 2024 included another major highlight, playing for Italy at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 in Türkiye. The team lost its first two games but rallied to make history and reach the final for its first-ever U17 medal. 

“We started out a bit tense I remember but after the two defeats we understood that we couldn't continue like this and we cleared our heads all together. From there, the rest is history,” said Suigo, who contributed 7.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in his first tournament for Italy. 

Italy could not handle the United States in the first half of the final, trailing 73-36 at halftime. But Italy tied the third quarter and only lost the fourth by four points – against a USA team stacked with future superstars like Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Koa Peat, Tyran Stokes and so on.

“The most substantial difference was the athletic part and their bodies. But speaking from the technical side, I think that we were also on par with them,” the big man said. 

With two Italian youth titles already locked up this season, Suigo and co. are ready for what awaits in Abu Dhabi, where Milan have been placed into Group A along with 2022 continental champion U18 Mega Super Belgrade, U18 Dubai Basketball and 2016 NextGen winner U18 FC Barcelona.

“The main thing I think we have understood is don't be afraid of anyone. We know the team we are and our capabilities and whatever team we are against we have to give our best,” he said.

Suigo now intends to take his next step towards being an inspiration for other young Italians. 

The 18-year-old is ready to make a big impression at the NextGen EuroLeague Finals

U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v U18 Mega Super  Belgrade (2025-05-22T08:15:00.000Z)

U18 FC Barcelona v U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-05-23T08:15:00.000Z)

U18 Dubai Basketball v U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-05-24T06:00:00.000Z)

Both regular season games were won by the Greens, but they were very close encounters with [a 76-81 road victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-roars-back-for-a-thrilling-76-81-win-at-fenerbahce/) for Ergin Ataman's men followed by [February's 91-90 thriller in Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-edges-fenerbahce-91-90-in-a-titanic-tussle/).

Sarunas Jasikevicius's team was the most impressive of all in the playoffs, comfortably sweeping [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/?season=2024-25) to earn a few days extra rest compared to Panathinaikos, which needed all five games to eventually overcome [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/?season=2024-25).

Although the offensive prowess of [regular season MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/202425-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-kendrick-nunn-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/) [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) and four-time champion [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) will grab most of the pregame attention, a key to this contest could be whether Panathinaikos produces the same kind of defensive prowess that successfully stifled Efes's dangerous scorers in the playoff decider.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

 

**Streaks**

Nigel Hayes-Davis has made at least 1 triple in 42 straight games.

Hayes-Davis has posted a PIR of 10 or more in 10 straight games.

Hayes-Davis has scored 14 or more points in seven straight games.

Hayes-Davis had at least 1 steal in five straight games.

Hayes-Davis has made 10 consecutive free throws.

Wade Baldwin has posted a PIR in double figures in seven straight games.

Baldwin has scored 10 or more points and made at least 1 three-pointer in five of his last six games.

Bonzie Colson has made at least 1 three-pointer in six of his last seven games.

Tarik Biberovic has made at least 1 three-pointer in five straight and seven of his last eight games.

Biberovic has scored in double figures and had a double-digit PIR in four straight games.

Dyshawn Pierre has made 9 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Nigel Hayes-Davis finished the regular season ranked ninth in average index rating with 17.8 per game.

Hayes-Davis finished the regular season ranked eighth in scoring with 16.8 points per game.

Hayes-Davis finished the regular season ranked eighth in steals with 1.1 per game.

Hayes-Davis finished the regular season tied for sixth in three-pointers made with 2.5 per game.

Nigel Hayes-Davis ranked second in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 21.7 average PIR.

Tarik Biberovic ranked first in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 3.7 three-pointers made per game.

Fenerbahce ranks third in free-throw shooting at 81.9%.

Fenerbahce ranks third in rebounding with 35.6 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks third in offensive rebounding with 11.8 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks second with 11.2 three-pointers made per game.

Fenerbahce has held opponents to 10.1 offensive rebounds, which is the second-lowest in the league.

Fenerbahce has allowed 81.0 points per game, which is the third-fewest in the league.

Fenerbahce has held opponents to 34.2% three-point shooting, the third-lowest this season.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Nigel Hayes-Davis set the EuroLeague single-game scoring record with 50 points in a victory over ALBA Berlin in Round 32 last season.

Nicolo Melli is in sixth place all-time in rebounds with 1,637. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fifth with 1,780.

Melli is in second place all-time in defensive rebounds with 1,221. Paulius Jankunas is the all-time leader with 1,453 defensive rebounds.

Melli is tied with Victor Khryapa for 15th place all-time with 161 career blocks. Mirza Begic is 14th with 163 blocks.

Scottie Wilbekin ranks fourth all-time with 608 three-pointers made. Sergio Rodriguez is third with 609.

Marko Guduric ranks 20th all-time with 384 three-pointers made. Gianluca Basile is 19th with 421.

Wilbekin is in 14th place all-time with 282 steals. Melli is 13th with 286. Kyle Hines is 12th all-time with 287 career steals.

Wilbekin needs 16 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.

Melli needs 33 points to reach 2,500 for his career.

Sertac Sanli needs 7 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.

Devon Hall needs 3 rebounds to reach 300 for his career.

Sertac Sanli is tied for 19th place in Final Fours this century with 5 blocks.

Game Videos

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

 

**Streaks**

Kendrick Nunn has made at least 1 three-point shot in 43 of his last 44 games.

Nunn has scored 12 or more points in 10 straight and 16 of his last 17 games.

Juancho Hernangomez has pulled down 5 or more rebounds in 21 straight games.

Hernangomez has made at least 1 three-point shot in five of his last six games.

Mathias Lessort has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in 11 straight and 23 of his last 24 games.

Lessort has had a PIR of 10 or more in 25 of his last 26 games.

Jerian Grant has made at least 1 three-point shot in nine of his last 10 games.

Cedi Osman has made at least 1 three-point shot in six straight games.

Osman has scored more than 10 points in four of his last five games.

Osman had double-digit PIRs in four straight games.

Osman has made 12 consecutive free throws.

Konstantinos Mitoglou has made at least 1 three-point shot in six of his last seven games.

Kostas Sloukas has made at least 1 three-point shot in four of his last five games.

Sloukas has made 16 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Kendrick Nunn was the regular season's scoring leader with 21.1 points per game.

Nunn finished the regular season as the league leader in three-pointers made with 3.1 per game.

Nunn finished the regular season ranked fifth in average index rating with 20.3 per game.

Juancho Hernangomez finished the regular season ranked third in rebounding with 6.7 per game.

Wenyen Gabriel finished the regular season ranked ninth in offensive rebounding with 1.9 per game.

Gabriel finished the regular season ranked fifth in blocks with 1.1 per game.

Kostas Sloukas finished the regular season ranked ninth in assists with 4.8 per game.

Sloukas finished the regular season ranked sixth in free-throw shooting at 93.5%.

Juancho Hernangomez was the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs rebounding leader with 8.8 boards per game.

Omer Yurtseven was the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs leader in offensive rebounds with 3.4  per game.

Kostas Sloukas ranked fifth in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 5.0 assists per game.

Panathinaikos leads the league in average PIR with 103.2 per game.

Panathinaikos is second in the league in scoring with 87.3 points per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in defensive rebounding with 24.3 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks third in steals with 7.0 per game.

Panathinaikos has allowed a league-high 38.6% on three-point shooting.

Panathinaikos has allowed 10.2 offensive rebounds per game, the third-lowest this season.

Panathinaikos has allowed the second-fewest total rebounds, 32.4 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Sloukas is tied with Kyle Hines for second place all-time with 425 games played. The next time he takes the floor, he will be in sole possession of the second place, behind only Sergio Llull’s 447 games played.

Sloukas is ranked second all-time with 1,884 assists. Nick Calathes of AS Monaco is the all-time leader with 2,130 and counting.

Sloukas is in fourth place all-time with 1,020 free throws made. Vassilis Spanoulis is third with 1,131.

Sloukas is seventh all-time with 4,051 career points. Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is sixth with 4,068 career points.

Sloukas is ranked fourth all-time with 5,063 index rating points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is third with 5,123.

Sloukas is 12th all-time with 509 three-point shots made. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is 11th with 510, and Rodrigue Beaubois of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 10th with 513.

Marius Grigonis ranks eighth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.6%.

Sloukas ranks 15th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 89.2%.

Sloukas is in 18th place on the all-time charts with 269 career steals. Vassilis Spanoulis is 17th with 273 steals.

Tibor Pleiss is ranked seventh all-time with 229 career blocks. Alex Tyus is sixth with 238.

Pleiss is in 11th place all-time with 470 offensive rebounds. Vincent Poirier of Efes is in 10th place all-time with 480 offensive rebounds.

Pleiss is tied with Nick Calathes of AS Monaco for 11th place all-time with 1,009 two-pointers made. Paulius Jankunas is 10th with 1,011.

Pleiss is ranked 16th all-time with 1,400 rebounds. Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos Piraeus is 15th with 1,423 and counting.

Grigonis needs 4 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Jerian Grant is the all-time leader with a 3.2-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

With his next appearance in a Final Four game, Kostas Sloukas will move into second place all-time with 21 Final Four games played. Victor Khryapa is the leader with 23.

Kostas Sloukas ranks third in Final Fours this century in assists with 67. Sergio Llull of Real Madrid is second with 71, and Sergio Rodriguez of Real Madrid is the leader with 76.

Sloukas is second in Final Fours this century in accumulated PIR with 203. Victor Khryapa is the leader with 208.

Sloukas is ranked second in Final Fours this century with 57 free throws made each. Nando De Colo is the leader with 59.

Sloukas ranks fourth in Final Fours this century in scoring with 191 points. JR Holden is third with 194 points and Sergio Rodriguez is second with 209. Sergio Llull is the scoring leader at the Final Fours this century with 213.

Sloukas ranks eighth in Final Fours this century with 37 two-pointers made. Holden is seventh with 39 two-pointers made and Llull is sixth with 40.

Sloukas is tied with Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus for 11th place in Final Fours this century with 20 three-point shots made apiece. Jaycee Carroll and David Blue are tied for ninth with 21 triples apiece, while Saras Jasikevicius and Vassilis Spanoulis are tied for seventh with 22 apiece.

Kostas Sloukas is tied with Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus for 12th place in Final Fours this century with 37 defensive rebounds. Milos Teodosic and Mike Batiste are tied for 10th place with 38 defensive rebounds apiece.

Sloukas is tied for 18th place in Final Fours this century with 9 steals. Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus, Marko Jaric, Jaka Lakovic and Sergio Rodriguez are tied for 14th with 10 steals apiece.

Sloukas needs 1 rebound to enter the top 20 in rebounding in Final Fours this century.

Game News

The opening semifinal will see reigning champion Panathinaikos continue its quest for back-to-back titles, while Fenerbahce aims to stay on track for its first crown since 2017.

Game Facts: Fenerbahce vs. Panathinaikos

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-05-23T15:00:00.000Z)

 - This is a rematch of the 2024 Final Four semifinals in which Panathinaikos beat Fenerbahce 73-57 behind 17 points and 10 rebounds from Mathias Lessort.

\- Panathinaikos has won four straight games against Fenerbahce, including a 2024-25 regular-season sweep. In Round 5, the Greens pulled out a 76-81 win in Istanbul. Panathinaikos edged Fenerbahce 91-90 at home in Round 25 behind 23 points from Kostas Sloukas.

\- Fenerbahce guard Devon Hall tied his career high with 7 rebounds and teammate Khem Birch tied his career high with 3 blocks in Round 25 against Panathinaikos. 

\- Fenerbahce became the first - and to date only - team to sweep a best-of-five EuroLeague Playoff series without having the home-court advantage when it ousted the Greens in 2017.

\- Panathinaikos guard Kostas Sloukas spent five seasons with Fenerbahce, from 2015 to 2020. He helped the club win the 2017 EuroLeague, reach four Final Fours and win three Turkish League championships in his time there.

\- In the 2023 EuroLeague Playoffs, while playing for Olympiacos Piraeus against Fenerbahce, Sloukas made a game-winning triple in Game 3 and then earned MVP honors in Game 5 when he scored 22 points with 6 assists, accumulating a PIR of 27.

\- Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius played four seasons for Panathinaikos from 2007 through 2010 and again in 2011-12. In that time, he helped the Greens to the 2009 EuroLeague championship and three Greek League crowns and three Greek Cups.

\- Panathinaikos guard Marius Grigonis played under Coach Jasikevicius at Zalgiris Kaunas for two seasons, from 2018 to 2020.

\- Grigonis was a teammate of Fenerbahce forward Nigel Hayes-Davies for two seasons at Zalgiris Kaunas, from 2019 to 2021.

\- Panathinaikos center Omer Yurtseven played in the Fenerbahce youth categories and made his professional debut there before leaving in 2016.

\- Fenerbahce's Melih Mahmutoglu, Metecan Biersen, Scottie Wilbekin and Setac Sanli have been teammates of Panathinaikos forward Cedi Osman on the Turkish national team.

\- Mahmutoglu and Sanli have also been teammates on the Turkish national team with Omer Yurtseven. They played under current Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman.

\- Fenerbahce guard Errick McCollum played under Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman at Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the second part of the 2017-18 season, and at Galatasaray during the 2015-16 season. They won the 2016 EuroCup together.

\- Panathinaikos playmaker Lorenzo Brown played for Fenerbahce during the 2020-21 season.

\- Brown was a teammate of Fenerbahce's Wade Baldwin and Bonzie Colson at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv for the last two seasons.

\- Baldwin earned MVP of the Round honors last season while leading Maccabi to a 90-75 win over Panathinaikos in Round 23. He had 22 points and 8 assists for a PIR of 33.

\- Bonzie Colson had a career game with a PIR of 41, collecting 29 points, 14 rebounds and making 5 three-pointers, all career highs, playing for Maccabi in a road loss against Panathinaikos in January 2023.

\- Fenerbahce guard Scottie Wilbekin was a teammate of Panathinaikos center Mathias Lessort for the start of the 2021-22 season at Maccabi.

\- Wilbekin grabbed a career-high 7 rebounds playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv against Panathinaikos in October 2021.

\- Panathinaikos guard Kendrick Nunn made a career-high 10 two-point shots when Panathinaikos beat Fenerbahce 74-63 in Athens in February 2024.

\- In that same game, Panathinaikos forward Juancho Hernangomez collected a career-high 3 steals.

\- Fenerbahce guard Errick McCollum posted his career high in steals with 4, playing for Khimki Moscow Region against Panathinaikos in January 2021.

\- Panathinaikos forward Ioannis Papapetrou dished a career-high 6 assists against Fenerbahce in April 2022.

\- Papapetrou tied his career-high in blocks with 3 against Fenerbahce in February 2019.

\- Panathinaikos guard Marius Grigonis dished a career-high 8 assists playing for Zalgiris Kaunas against Fenerbahce in March 2021.

\- Fenerbahce forward Dyshawn Pierre collected a career-high 10 rebounds in an 83-69 win over Panathinaikos in October 2023.

\- Pierre blocked a career-high 3 shots against Panathinaikos in January 2021.

\- Panathinaikos point guard Kostas Sloukas had a career-best 4 steals playing for Olympiacos Piraeus in a road loss against Fenerbahce in January 2022.

Game Notes: Fenerbahce vs. Panathinaikos

It will be the 14th meeting between the teams since 2022, including another semifinal two years ago, which was taken by Olympiacos after a historic 27-2 third quarter surge.

Mike James will lead Monaco's attempts to prevent the Greek giant's attempts to exert another defensive stranglehold. The star guard again showed his clutch mentality by scoring 20 points in Game 5 of the playoff series against Barcelona, and his backcourt partnership with the smooth scoring skills of Elie Okobo and the three-point shooting threat of Matthew Strazel will propel the Monaco offense.

A key player for Olympiacos will inevitably be effortlessly elegant forward Sasha Vezenkov, who followed a fabulous regular season by being named Playoffs MVP with averages of 19 points and 7 boards in the 3-1 series victory over Real Madrid.

### Olympiacos Piraeus

**Streaks**

Sasha Vezenkov has scored in double figures and posted a double-digit PIR in 39 straight games.

Vezenkov has posted a PIR of 14 or more in 35 straight games.

Vezenkov has made at least 1 three-pointer in 24 straight games.

Vezenkov has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in 14 of his last 15 games.

Alec Peters has had PIRs in double figures in six of his last seven games.

Evan Fournier has made at least 1 three-pointer in six of his last seven games.

Fournier scored at least 13 points and had double-digit PIRs in five of his last six games.

Fournier had at least 1 steal in five of his last six games.

Nikola Milutinov has multiple offensive rebounds in seven of his last eight games.

Moustapha Fall has blocked at least 1 shot in four of his last five games.

Keenan Evans has scored at least 10 points in 10 straight and 21 of his last 22 games.

Evans has posted a double-digit PIR in nine of his last 10 games.

Evans has made at least 1 three-pointer in 17 straight games.

Evans has made 21 consecutive free throws.

**Season rankings**

Sasha Vezenkov was the regular-season leader in average index rating with 24.5 per game.

Vezenkov finished the regular season ranked third in scoring with 20.2 points per game.

Evan Fournier finished the regular season ranked 10th in scoring with 15.8 points per game.

Vezenkov finished the regular season ranked fourth in rebounding with 6.6 per game.

Nikola Milutinov finished the regular season ranked fifth in offensive rebounding with 2.6 per game.

Moustapha Fall was the regular season leader in two-point shooting at 77.2%.

Alec Peters finished the regular season ranked second in three-point shooting at 54.4%.

Peters finished the regular season ranked fourth in free-throw shooting at 94.1%.

Evan Fournier finished the regular season ranked fifth in three-pointers made with 2.6 per game.

Sasha Vezenkov was the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs leader in PIR with an average of 22.8.

Vezenkov ranked third in scoring in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 19.0 points per game.

Evan Fournier was fourth in scoring in the playoffs with 17.7 points per game.

Vezenkov was tied for second in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 7.0 rebounds per game.

Nikola Milutinov was fourth in rebounding the the playoffs with 6.3 per game.

Milutinov ranked second in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 3.3 offensive rebounds per game.

Fournier ranked fourth in steals in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 1.7 per game.

Olympiacos leads the league in assists with 20.9 per game.

Olympiacos is second in the league in team PIR with 101.2 per game.

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Papanikolaou is the all-time leader in games started with 338.

Papanikolaou is in eighth place all-time in steals with 326. Mike James of AS Monaco is seventh with 330 and counting.

Papanikolaou is ranked 12th all-time with 1,431 career rebounds. Georgios Printezis is 11th with 1,452.

Nikola Milutinov is ranked 15th all-time with 1,423 career rebounds. Othello Hunter is 14th with 1,424.

Milutinov is ranked sixth all-time in offensive rebounds with 653. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fifth with 657.

Moustapha Fall ranks second all-time in two-point accuracy at 73.0%.

Fall is ranked 12th all-time with 170 career blocked shots. Stephane Lasme is 11th with 174 career blocks.

Milutinov is tied with Ante Tomic for 18th place all-time with 155 blocked shots. With his next block, he will tie Jordan Mickey for 17th place.

Thomas Walkup ranks 15th all-time with a 2.5-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Walkup is ranked 14th all-time in assists with 1,013. Vasilije Micic is 13th with 1,097 assists.

Walkup is in 15th place all-time in steals with 281. Scottie Wilbekin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is in 14th place with 282 steals, and Nicolo Melli of Fenerbahce is 13th with 286 and counting.

Alec Peters ranks 11th all-time in free-throw shooting accuracy at 90.1%.

Peters ranks third all-time in three-point accuracy at 46.6%.

Keenan Evans needs 2 steals to reach 100 for his career.

With his next appearance in a Final Four game, Kostas Papanikolaou will move into a tie with Milos Teodosic and Andrey Vorontsevich for ninth place all-time with 15 Final Four games played. JR Holden is eighth with 16 appearances in Final Four games.

Papanikolaou has 12 starts in Final Four games this century, which is tied for the third most. Victor Khryapa is second with 13 starts, and JR Holden is the leader with 15 starts in Final Four games.

Papanikolaou is tied with Kostas Sloukas of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens for 11th place in Final Fours this century with 20 three-point shots made. Jaycee Carroll and David Blue are tied for ninth with 21 triples apiece, while Saras Jasikevicius and Vassilis Spanoulis are tied for seventh with 22 apiece.

Papanikolaou ranks in ninth place in Final Fours this century with 55 rebounds. Mike Batiste is eighth with 58 rebounds, and Nikola Mirotic is seventh with 59 rebounds.

Papanikolaou is tied with Nikola Mirotic and Brandon Davies for 13th place in Final Fours this century with 18 offensive rebounds. Matjaz Smodis, Sasha Kaun and Maceo Baston are tied for 10th place with 19 offensive rebounds each.

Papanikolaou is tied with Kostas Sloukas of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens for 12th place in Final Fours this century with 37 defensive rebounds. Milos Teodosic and Mike Batiste are tied for 10th place with 38 apiece.

Shaquielle McKissic ranks 12th in Final Fours this century with 12 steals. With his next swipe, he will equal Mike Batiste, Kyle Hines and Nikola Mirotic, who are all tied for ninth place with 13 steals.

Papanikolaou is tied with Marko Jaric, Jaka Lakovic and Sergio Rodriguez for 14th place in Final Fours this century with 10 steals. Nick Calathes is 13th with 11 steals.

Thomas Walkup is tied for 19th place in Final Fours this century in assists with 24. Juan Carlos Navarro is 18th with 25, and Kyle Hines is 17th with 26.

### AS Monaco

**Streaks**

Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 15 straight games.

James has had 5 or more assists in seven of his last eight games.

James has scored at least 16 points and had PIRs of 19 or more in five of his last six games.

Matthew Strazel has made at least 1 three-pointer in 10 straight games.

Strazel has scored 10 or more points in five of his last six games.

Alpha Diallo has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games.

Diallo has made at least 1 three-pointer in five straight games.

Georgios Papagiannis has made 15 consecutive free throws.

Jaron Blossomgame has pulled down multiple offensive rebounds in four straight games.

**Season rankings**

Mike James finished the regular season ranked fourth in assists with 5.7 per game.

Georgios Papagiannis was the regular-season leader in blocks with 1.4 per game.

Mike James ranked third in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs in PIR with an average of 19.0.

James ranked fifth in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs with 2.4 three-pointers made per game.

James was the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs leader with 6.6 assists per game.

Monaco has committed 10.7 turnovers per game, the second-lowest in the league.

Monaco ranks fourth in scoring with 86.4 points per game.

Monaco ranks fourth in blocks with 2.8 per game.

Monaco has forced a league-high 13.6 turnovers per game.

**Records/Milestones**

Mike James is the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer with 5,242 career points.

James is second all-time with 5,398 index rating points. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is first with a PIR of 5,473.

James is in second place all-time in free throws made with 1,154. De Colo is the all-time leader with 1,181.

James is in fifth place all-time with 1,511 career assists. Vassilis Spanoulis is fourth with 1,607 assists.

James is in fifth place all-time with 606 three-pointers made. Scottie Wilbekin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is fourth with 608, and Sergio Rodriguez is third with 609 three-pointers.

James is fifth all-time in two-point shots made with 1,135. Ante Tomic is fourth with 1,137.

James is in seventh place all-time with 330 career steals. Theo Papaloukas is sixth with 335 career steals.

Nick Calathes is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in assists with 2,130.

Calathes set the EuroLeague single-season assists record in 2018-19 with 286.

Calathes is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in steals with 459.

Calathes ranks second all-time in games started with 318, behind only Kostas Papanikolaou, who has 338 and counting.

Calathes ranks eighth all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Calathes is ninth all-time with 4,295 performance index rating points. Kyle Hines is in eighth place all-time with 4,299 performance index rating points.

Calathes is ranked 16th all-time in scoring with 3,282 points. Kyle Hines is 15th with 3,339 points.

Calathes is tied with Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens for 11th place all-time with 1,009 two-pointers made. Paulius Jankunas is 10th with 1,011.

Georgios Papagiannis is ranked fourth all-time with 253 blocks. Kyle Hines is third with 320 blocks.

Papagiannis ranks 17th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.4%.

Donatas Motiejunas set the EuroLeague single-game record with 18 defensive rebounds on December 7, 2011, while playing for Asseco Prokom Gdynia against Union Olimpija Ljubljana. In that game, Motiejunas pulled down 21 rebounds, the most rebounds in a single game by any active player.

Nick Calathes ranks fifth in Final Fours this century in assists with 48. Theo Papaloukas is fourth with 59 assists.

Calathes is tied with JR Holden and Maceo Baston for 16th place in Final Fours this century with 31 defensive rebounds. Ante Tomic is in 15th place with 32 defensive rebounds.

Calathes is tied for 19th place in Final Fours this century with 43 rebounds. Felipe Reyes is 18th with 44 rebounds, while Dimitris Diamantidis and Trajan Langdon are tied for 16th with 45 rebounds apiece.

Calathes ranks 13th in Final Fours this century with 11 steals. Shaquielle McKissic of Olympiacos Piraeus is 12th with 12 steals. Mike Batiste, Kyle Hines and Nikola Mirotic are all tied for ninth place with 13 steals apiece.

Calathes has 9 starts in Final Four games this century, which is tied for 13th. Seven players are tied for sixth with 10 games started each.

Friday's action concludes with the renewal of a growing modern rivalry as Olympiacos takes on Monaco.

Game Facts: Olympiacos vs. Monaco

Olympiacos Piraeus v AS Monaco (2025-05-23T18:00:00.000Z)

It will be the 14th meeting between the teams since 2022, including another [semifinal two years ago](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2223-olympiacos-vs-monaco-semifinal-blog/), which was taken by Olympiacos after [a historic 27-2 third quarter surge](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/record-setting-d-fueled-reds-historic-third-quarter/).

[Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/?season=2024-25) will lead Monaco's attempts to prevent the Greek giant's attempts to exert another defensive stranglehold. The star guard again showed his clutch mentality by scoring 20 points in [Game 5 of the playoff series against Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-beats-barcelona-85-84-to-confirm-final-four-return/), and his backcourt partnership with the smooth scoring skills of [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) and the three-point shooting threat of [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) will propel the Monaco offense.

A key player for Olympiacos will inevitably be effortlessly elegant forward [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/), who followed a fabulous regular season by being named [Playoffs MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/sasha-vezenkov-is-the-2025-turkish-airlines-euroleague-playoffs-mvp/) with averages of 19 points and 7 boards in the 3-1 series victory over Real Madrid.

\- In the 2023 Final Four semifinals in Kaunas, Olympiacos came back from 12 points down to beat Monaco 76-62. Kostas Papanikolaou had 15 points and 8 rebounds in that game.

\- Monaco and Olympiacos have met 14 times since November 2021 and each team has won seven games after splitting road victories during the regular season.

\- In Round 32, Monaco pulled out a 77-80 win in Piraues with Jaron Blossomgame scoring a career-high 18 points.

\- Olympiacos won the matchup of these two teams in Monaco, 80-89 in Round 13, which happened to be the second game on the bench for Monaco head coach Vassilis Spanoulis.

\- Olympiacos ousted Monaco 3-2 in the 2022 playoffs. Olympiacos won Games 1 and 3, while Monaco took Games 2 and 4. In the deciding Game 5, Olympiacos rallied to pull out a 94-88 win with Shaquielle McKissic scoring 18 points.

\- Monaco head coach Vassilis Spanoulis is an Olympiacos Piraeus legend. He spent 11 seasons there and led the team to EuroLeague titles in 2012 and 2013, as well as championship games in 2015 and 2017.

\- Larentzakis, Walkup, Papanikolaou, Naz Mitrou-Long have all played under Coach Spanoulis on the Greek national team.

\- Olympiacos center Moustapha Fall played for Monaco during the 2014-15 season, when the club was in the French second division.

\- Monaco's Terry Tarpey and Elie Okobo were teammates of Moustapha Fall and Evan Fournier on the French national team and won silver medals together at EuroBasket 2022.

\- Fall and Fournier have been teammates of Monaco's Petr Cornelie on the French national team. They won silver medals together at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

\- Fournier and Monaco's Matthew Strazel have been teammates on the French national team and won silver medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

\- Monaco's Petr Cornelie and Olympiacos guard Nigel Wiliams-Goss were teammates at Real Madrid during the 2022-23 season and won the EuroLeague championship.

\- Olympiacos center Nikola Milutinov and Monaco's Mike James were teammates at CSKA Moscow during the 2020-21 season.

\- Monaco point guard Nick Calathes was a teammate of Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul for the last two seasons. Monaco center Georgios Papagiannis was with them at Fenerbahce last season.

\- Papanikolaou, Thomas Walkup, Dorsey and Giannoulis Larentzakis have all been teammates of Calathes and Papagiannis on the Greek national team.

\- Georgios Papagiannis blocked a career-high 5 shots while playing for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens against Olympiacos in December 2021.

\- Monaco point guard Nick Calathes posted his career high in rebounds with 13 while playing for FC Barcelona against Olympiacos in October 2021.

\- Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey tied his career-best 7 rebounds while playing for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Game 1 of the 2024 playoff series against Monaco. He also had 7 rebounds while playing for Olympiacos against Monaco in November 2021.

\- Monaco guard Mike James recorded a career-high 5 steals while playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Olympiacos in March 2015.

\- Monaco guard Matthew Strazel made a career-high 5 three-pointers while playing for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne against Olympiacos in March 2022.

Game Notes: Olympiacos vs. Monaco

Now streaming on YouTube, “The 7th Star” – the latest documentary produced by Euroleague Basketball Originals – follows Panathinaikos BC’s postseason journey towards winning the club’s seventh EuroLeague championship.

“The 7th Star” is now available to watch on YouTube! 

How does a team go from 17th in the standings one year to winning the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title the next? The [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) team of 2023-24 had the answer.

Now streaming on YouTube, “The 7th Star” – the latest documentary produced by Euroleague Basketball Originals – follows the Greens’ postseason journey towards winning the club’s seventh EuroLeague championship. 

During the 50-minute documentary, some of the main protagonists from Panathinaikos’s run to the 2024 EuroLeague title take center stage in “The 7th Star”, including club owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos, coach Ergin Ataman, [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/).

The 7th Star | Trailer

After a manic summer in 2023, in which two-time champion Coach Ataman arrived, together with 10 new players, hopes were high for a Panathinaikos side hoping to lift its first EuroLeague championship since 2011.

Sloukas’s decision to move across the Greek divide by changing the red of Olympiacos Piraeus for the green of Panathinaikos sent shockwaves across Europe, while All-EuroLeague center Lessort had already signed on the dotted line 11 days prior. But it was the addition of Nunn in late October that really put Panathinaikos on the right track towards achieving its ultimate goal.

There were ups and downs for Panathinaikos in the playoffs and moments of adversity at the Final Four, but the Greens – led by Coach Ataman, Sloukas, Lessort and Nunn – wrote history by flipping the culture of the club and bringing a EuroLeague title back to Athens.

More Panathinaikos News

The new documentary showcasing Panathinaikos’s 2024 EuroLeague title is 

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-05-26T18:00:00.000Z)

The two semifinal games at the upcoming 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four held in Abu Dhabi will feature two matchups that we saw in the two previous editions of the tournament.

The strange cases of déjà vu in the 2025 EuroLeague semifinals

The two semifinal games at the upcoming 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four held in Abu Dhabi will feature two matchups that we saw in the two previous editions of the tournament.

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) get the Final Four underway in a rematch of last season’s semifinal. While Fener will be aiming to get some payback and advance to the championship game for the first time since 2018, the Greens are looking to repeat what happened last season and get one step closer towards winning back-to-back titles.

Not that they need any extra motivation but it’s certain that several [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) players who were present at the 2023 Final Four haven’t forgotten the way they lost to [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) in that semifinal and will also be looking for vengeance.

“It seems inevitable that we're always gonna meet them no matter what happens, so it's almost like fate," said Monaco superstar Mike James. “So, we gotta take care of business this time.”

On the other hand, Olympiacos is more than aware of that. After three straight trips to the Final Four but zero championships in that time, Giorgos Bartzokas and his players know that they must first overcome Monaco before attempting to finally bring the EuroLeague title back to Piraeus.

Eurohoops takes a look back at what happened in the last time we had these exact Final Four semifinal matchups and what decided each contest.

Read the rest of the article [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1826397/the-strange-cases-of-deja-vu-in-the-2025-euroleague-semifinals/).

Eurohoops looks at the last time we saw these teams facing off in the semifinals

Johanathan Motley had a EuroCup season to remember, capped off with the title and the EuroCup Finals MVP trophy.

Tribute to the Champs: Johnathan Motley

When [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) signed [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) last summer, it was with one goal in mind – to win the BKT EuroCup and secure a place in next season’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Not only did Motley live up to the billing, but he was the EuroCup Finals MVP as Hapoel won its first-ever European title.

Motley had already starred in the EuroCup before with Lokomotiv Kuban in 2021-22, but after two years in the EuroLeague with Fenerbahce, expectation levels were high with regard to what he could do this time around. His season averages of 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists show the impact he had, yet his importance to Hapoel grew even further in the latter stages of the campaign.

In a semifinal series that many before the season tipped to be the EuroCup Finals, Motley posted 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as Hapoel defeated Valencia 2-1, which included 26 points in Game 2 as the Israeli side forced a do-or-die Game 3 at La Fonteta. Motley then averaged 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal in the EuroCup Finals as Hapoel swept Dreamland Gran Canaria. Having signed him for the big occasions, he made sure to step up when the lights shine the brightest.

Motley, who played 20 times this season, finished the campaign leading Hapoel in PIR (19.4) and points (16.7 PPG), while he was tied for first in rebounds (4.8 RPG) with Tomer Ginat, while his 0.5 blocks per night were third on the team. For the skillful big man, he showed why Hapoel was so delighted to have signed him last summer.

More Hapoel Tel Aviv News

He was named the Finals MVP after a dominant showing with the title on the line

On the fourth episode of The Crossover this season, Joe Arlauckas is joined by Mike Batiste and coach Dimitris Itoudis to revisit Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens's legendary run in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague from 2007 to 2011, which saw the Greens become European champion in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Dimitris Itoudis, Mike Batiste remember their Panathinaikos successes on The Crossover

On the fourth episode of The Crossover this season, Joe Arlauckas is joined by [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/) and coach [Dimitris Itoudis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/itoudis-dimitris/) to revisit [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/)'s legendary run in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague from 2007 to 2011, which saw the Greens become European champion in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

While Batiste was a star player at Panathinaikos alongside Dimitris Diamantidis, who also lifted these three EuroLeague titles, Coach Itoudis was an assistant to Zeljko Obradovic for the triumphs in Athens (2007), Berlin (2009), and Barcelona (2011).

With the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi just one week away, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul star Tarik Biberovic appeared on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the club's pre-Final Four Media Day. He was also joined at points by teammate Wade Baldwin and club mascot Yellow!

Tarik Biberovic joined by two surprise guests on pre-Final Four EuroLeague & Friends podcast

With the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi just one week away, [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) star [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) appeared on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the club's pre-Final Four Media Day. He was also joined at points by teammate Wade Baldwin and club mascot Yellow!

During the podcast, they discussed Vasiliki not picking Biberovic in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge, his great playoff series against Paris Basketball, how he has improved under Saras Jasikevicius, and much more.

In Abu Dhabi, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens playmaker Kostas Sloukas will have a chance to truly rewrite the history books.

Kostas Sloukas sets his sights on Final Four records

When a player is playing in his 11th Final Four – more than all but one player in the history of the competition, and as one of the main protagonists in each one of those – it is not much of a surprise that he is flirting with all kinds of Final Four records.

In Abu Dhabi, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens playmaker [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) will have a chance to truly rewrite the history books.

First and foremost, last year’s Final Four MVP will aim to become the first player this century to win five EuroLeague championships. He climbed the throne with Olympiacos in 2012 and 2013, he lifted the crown with Fenerbahce in 2017, and then did so with Panathinaikos last season.

If Panathinaikos ends up going back-to-back, the only players who would have more titles than Sloukas in the history of the competition would be Dino Meneghin with seven (titles won between 1970 and 1988) and Clifford Luyk (all from 1964 to 1978).

### Eyeing top spot

But Sloukas also has a realistic chance to reach the mountaintop in as many as four different Final Four statistical categories.

Sloukas enters this Final Four in second place [in accumulated PIR](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=Valuation&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF) with 203. [Victor Khryapa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/victor-khryapa/bcq/) is the leader with 208. Sloukas is also [ranked second with 57 free throws made](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=FreeThrowsMade&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF), while [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) is the leader with 59. With three free throws made at the Final Four, Sloukas would be first overall all-time.

The Panathinaikos playmaker [ranks third with 67 assists](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=Assistances&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF), behind only [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) (71) and [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) (76). Sloukas also arrives in Abu Dhabi ranked fourth in scoring at Final Fours this century with 191 points. Above him are [JR Holden](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jr-holden/aqo/) (194 points), Rodriguez (209) and Llull (213).

So, [with 23 points in two games](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=Score&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF), Sloukas would claim the top spot, which Llull has occupied since 2023. It’s worth remembering that Nikos Galis is the scoring leader in Final Four era with 231 points, achieved at the Final Fours played between 1988 and 1994. Sloukas would need to score 40 points in Abu Dhabi to catch Galis.

Moreover, with his next appearance in a Final Four game, Sloukas will move into second place all-time with [21 Final Four games played](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=GamesPlayed&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF), behind only Khryapa (23 Final Four appearances).

There is another player in Abu Dhabi who is set to move into the Top 10 in terms of appearances – Sloukas's former teammate, Olympiacos Piraeus team captain [Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/). He is currently 11th, with one fewer Final Four game played than [Milos Teodosic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/milos-teodosic/jdr/) and [Andrey Vorontsevich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andrey-vorontsevich/lhi/), who are tied in ninth place with 15 appearances. In Abu Dhabi, Papanikolaou – playing at his eighth Final Four – can also move past them and catch Holden, who sits in eighth place with 16 Final Four games played.

Interestingly, Sloukas and Papanikolaou are tied just outside the Top 10 in Final Fours this century in two categories.

They sit in 11th place with [20 three-point shots](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=FieldGoalsMade3&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF) made apiece, with [Jaycee Carroll](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaycee-carroll/001960/) and [David Blu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/david-blu/bes/) tied for ninth with 21 triples apiece, while [Saras Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saras-jasikevicius/adg/) and [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/) are tied for seventh having made 22 threes each. Sloukas and Papanikolaou are also tied in 12th place with 37 defensive rebounds. Teodosic and [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/) are tied in 10th place with 38 defensive rebounds apiece.

Sloukas is set to move up the two-pointers made list, where he ranks eighth with 37 shots made, behind Holden in seventh with 39 and Llull in sixth with 40 two-pointers made.

### McKissic leading the steals race

Sloukas is also tied for 18th place in Final Fours this century with 9 steals, needing four more to get into the Top 10. However, there are three other players in Abu Dhabi who have more steals in Final Four games than Sloukas.

[Shaquielle McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shaquielle-mckissic/007853/) ranks in 12th place in Final Fours this century [with 12 steals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=Steals&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF), which is more than any other player at this Final Four. This figure is even more impressive when you consider that McKissic has only played six Final Four games in his career. With his next steal, he will equal [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/), [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/) and [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), who are all tied in ninth place with 13 steals apiece.

Behind McKissic sits AS Monaco's [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/), who is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in steals with 459, but only 11 of those came in the Final Fours, which ranks him in 13th place. Papanikolaou is also ahead of Sloukas, having stolen 10 balls, for 14th place. 

### Papanikolaou and Calathes moving up

Papanikolaou and Calathes are the only other players in Abu Dhabi who are already in the Top 10 in several categories, with an opportunity to move up some more.

Calathes, the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in assists, ranks fifth in Final Fours in that category with 48 assists. He needs 11 more to catch fourth-placed [Theo Papaloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theodoros-papaloukas/atw/).

Papanikolaou has 12 starts in Final Four games this century, [tied for the third-most](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=GamesStarted&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF). Khryapa is second with 13 starts, and Holden is the leader with 15 starts in Final Four games. Calathes has nine starts in Final Four games this century, currently tied for 13th, but if he starts one game in Abu Dhabi he would enter the Top 10. If he starts both, Calathes would be alone in sixth place in this category.

Papanikolaou [ranks in ninth place](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=TotalRebounds&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF) with 55 rebounds, behind Batiste (58) and seventh-placed Mirotic (59). [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) is sixth with 64 rebounds in Final Fours this century. In this same category, Calathes is in 19th with 43 rebounds and needs 10 in Abu Dhabi to catch 10th-placed [Ioannis Bourousis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-bourousis/aqu/) (53).

Papanikolaou needs a [single offensive rebound](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=OffensiveRebounds&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF) to move into the Top 10, while Calathes requires [one defensive rebound](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&category=DefensiveRebounds&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=FF) to enter the Top 15 in that category in Final Fours this century.

The Panathinaikos point guard is in position to rewrite the Final Four history books in Abu Dhabi

It's almost game time as Europe's top four basketball teams arrive in Abu Dhabi. Scores of passionate fans will gather for two days of elite action at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The excitement is just getting started! While you're in the city for the games, there's plenty of action off the court as well, offering unmissable entertainment and fan experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Off the court: 10 unmissable experiences for EuroLeague fans in Abu Dhabi

It's almost game time as Europe's top four basketball teams arrive in Abu Dhabi. Scores of passionate fans will gather for two days of elite action at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The excitement is just getting started! While you're in the city for the games, there's plenty of action off the court as well, offering unmissable entertainment and fan experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Here’s your guide to exciting Abu Dhabi experiences during your stay:

**1.       Immerse yourself in art at Louvre Abu Dhabi** 

Take a break from the court and step into Louvre Abu Dhabi, a universal museum nestled in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District. Immerse yourself in the museum's permanent collection, featuring iconic works by artists from around the world. Visit seasonal exhibitions, including the current offering of “*Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power”*, which offers a glimpse into the lives of Africa’s most revered and powerful figures.

**2.       Step into a world of wonder at teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi**

Be among the first to explore [teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi](https://www.teamlababudhabi.com/) — a multisensory space where art, science, and technology converge. With ever-evolving exhibits that respond to movement and light, each visit is a unique, immersive journey where the art truly comes alive.

**3.       Visit the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque**

A visit to Abu Dhabi wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the country’s largest mosque. The vision of the Founding Father of the UAE, the mosque welcomes millions of visitors from all religions and around the world each year, providing a glimpse into the country’s traditions and rich history. Offering guided tours, guests are invited to immerse themselves in this architectural marvel and gain a deeper understanding of the emirate’s culture.

**4.       Savor the flavors of Abu Dhabi’s diverse dining experiences**

From locally inspired dishes at Erth, the first-ever Emirati restaurant to receive a Michelin star, to international flavors at Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi’s dining scene has something for every palate. Whether indulging in Zuma’s modern Japanese fare or the vibrant fusion at Sushi Samba, you'll find global flavors in every corner. And if you're after a laid-back bite or fine dining, Abu Dhabi is ready to serve a winning meal.

**5.       Feel the excitement of adventure on Yas Island**

For thrill-seekers and families alike, Yas Island is the ultimate destination. Ride one of the world’s fastest rollercoasters, Formula Rossa, at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi or dive into animated worlds at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. From adrenaline to animation, Yas Island is where the fun never stops.

**6.       Paddle through nature at the Mangrove National Park on Jubail Island**

Trade the basketball court for a different kind of arena – the serene waterways of the [Mangrove National Park](https://jubailisland.ae/jubail-mangrove-park/). Rent a kayak and paddle through the lush mangrove forests, discovering the unique ecosystem and spotting local wildlife, offering a chance to escape from the city and connect with nature.

**7.       Catch a wave at Surf Abu Dhabi on Hudayriyat Island**

Whether you're a seasoned surfer or a first-timer, [Surf Abu Dhabi](https://www.surfabudhabi.com/booking?ref=em-conversions-ba-session-uae&utm_term=surf%20in%20abu%20dhabi&utm_campaign=SurfAD-EM-Conversion-UAE-2May25&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=8959274435&hsa_cam=22499760705&hsa_grp=176211976502&hsa_ad=749959074363&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=aud-2380739198795:kwd-324082988836&hsa_kw=surf%20in%20abu%20dhabi&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22499760705&gbraid=0AAAAA-KQXXLCvFCnIpTCASCmokSlVOCLE&gclid=CjwKCAjw24vBBhABEiwANFG7y92MmgRCl2-AMxy9GSTsnnXIUZnGXJhbyY7bq0dlNjcxMSlDw9G2mhoCP7AQAvD_BwE) offers year-round thrills. Home to the world’s longest ride, largest barrel, and tallest man-made wave, it’s a must-visit for water lovers. Add in a beach club, restaurants, and oceanfront vibes, and you’ve got the ultimate surf spot.

**8.       Experience the thrill of a desert safari**

Enjoy a thrilling dune-bashing experience across the sand dunes and cross off a bucket list experience with Abu Dhabi’s famous desert safaris. Take a camel ride to see things from a different perspective and relax in a traditional Bedouin-style camp, where you can enjoy Emirati cuisine and cultural performances under the stars. It's a unique opportunity to experience the desert environment and local culture, all while creating special, fun-filled memories with loved ones.

**9.       Pamper yourself at Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara on Sir Bani Yas Island**

Inspired by the surrounding desert, the [Anantara Spa](https://www.anantara.com/en/desert-islands-sir-bani-yas?utm_source=GoogleMyBusiness&utm_medium=GMB&utm_term=DesertIslands&utm_content=Home&utm_campaign=Google_GMB) blends age-old healing traditions with modern wellness, natural ingredients, and ocean views from the outdoor jacuzzi, creating a serene escape that’s perfect for a peaceful recharge.

**10.   Unwind and shop in style at Yas Mall**

Just a short drive from Etihad Arena, Yas Mall is Abu Dhabi’s largest shopping destination. Stroll through its spacious avenues lined with international and regional brands, stop for a bite at one of the many cafes and restaurants, or catch a film at the cinema. With entertainment for all ages and a direct link to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, it’s the perfect stop between the Final Four games.

From the thrill of the EuroLeague Final Four to a city packed with unforgettable experiences, build your perfect itinerary, make memories that last, and discover why Abu Dhabi is the real MVP of your EuroLeague adventure. Head to [visitabudhabi.ae](http://visitabudhabi.ae) to find out more!

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four games take place 23 & 25 May

There won’t be any pretenders on the sidelines of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four with head coaches Georgios Bartzokas of Olympiacos Piraeus, Sarunas Jasikevicius of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Ergin Ataman of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, and Vassilis Spanoulis of AS Monaco at work

2025 Final Four: The coaches

There won’t be any pretenders on the sidelines of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. All four coaches in Abu Dhabi have lifted the trophy before, whether as a coach or player, and bring with them the necessary credentials to make history. Let’s have a look at what makes these four so special.

#### Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus

**Years with club:** 7

**Final Fours:** 6

The 59-year-old Georgios Bartzokas has had a full and exciting coaching career, which included four seasons abroad in Russia and Spain, but his biggest accomplishments have come with Olympiacos. He guided the club to the EuroLeague crown in 2013 in his first season on the bench. Now in his second stint, Bartzokas has taken the Reds to four straight Final Fours.

Bartzokas has coached five clubs in the EuroLeague (Maroussi, Olympiacos, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, FC Barcelona and Khimki Moscow Region) and taken three of them to the playoffs. However, his career record at the Final Four is 5-5 and his record in the semifinals is 2-3. That includes losing the 2022 semifinal to eventual champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul on a Vasilije Micic three at the buzzer.

This season Bartzokas has kept Olympiacos on a steady path, despite dealing with frontcourt injuries and losing point guard Thomas Walker for the stretch run. Already a three-time EuroLeague Coach of the Year and ranked sixth all-time in coaching wins, Bartzokas is now two wins from history.

**If Olympiacos wins…** Bartzokas would win his second championship 12 years after his first. That would be the second-longest gap between EuroLeague crowns. The longest is 15 years by the late Dusan Ivkovic, who Bartzokas replaced at Olympiacos in 2012.

#### Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

**Years with club:** 2 as a coach, 1 as a player

**Final Fours:** 6 as a coach, 5 as a player

A star point guard in his playing days, Sarunas Jasikevicius navigated a season of ups and downs to become the first team to qualify for the Final Four. All Saras has done is win whether as a player or coach. After capturing four EuroLeague championships with three teams as a player, he has now become the first coach to reach five consecutive Final Fours while switching teams in the middle.

After retiring as a player, Jasikevicius returned home to Lithuania and started his career as an assistant coach with Zalgiris Kaunas. He was handed the head coaching reins in January 2016 and has not disappointed thanks to his eye for talent, tactical acumen and level of intensity that ensures he gets the most out of his charges. Saras led Zalgiris to the 2018 Final Four and then joined FC Barcelona in 2021, leading the club to the next three Final Fours. Last season, having been appointed by Fenerbahce midseason, he took the team to the 2024 Final Four.

To date, Jasikevicius is 1-4 at semifinals and eager to change that. He was voted as this season's Aleksander Gomelskiy Coach of the Year after twice leading Fener on six-game winning streaks and later sweeping Paris Basketball in the playoffs. Saras is now two wins from history.

**If Fenerbahce wins…** Jasikevicius would become the fourth person in EuroLeague history to have won the championship as a player and coach. The first three were Armenak Alachachan, Lolo Sainz and Svetislav Pesic.

#### Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Years with club: 2

Final Fours: 7

Not only is he the reigning champ, but Ergin Ataman has won the EuroLeague in three of the last four seasons! None of that is a coincidence. Ataman is a coach who has a system, gives talented players the freedom to be creative in that system and all season long challenges them, holds them accountable and instills confidence in them.

The EuroLeague is one of four pan-European competitions that Ataman has won, so the Turkish tactician is as experienced as they come in pressure-filled situations. And when needed, he knows how to take on the pressure and thus relieve his players of it.

With Panathinaikos, Ataman put together a star-studded roster in his first season and got them to gel in time to take the crown. This season he added more top-tier talent and made sure the ship kept sailing after All-EuroLeague center Mathias Lessort went down with a broken leg. Ataman has won his last four EuroLeague semifinals and is seeking his fifth championship game appearance from the last six Final Fours. Ataman is now two wins from history.

**If Panathinaikos wins…** Ataman will move into a tie (with Ettore Messina, Bozidar Maljkovic, Pedro Ferrandiz and Aleksander Gomelskiy) for the second-most championships won with four. The winningest coach is Zeljko Obradovic with nine titles.

#### Vassilis Spanoulis, AS Monaco

Years with club: 1

Final Fours: 1 as a coach, 5 as a player

As a player Vassilis Spanoulis was known as someone who brought magic to the court and never shied away from the biggest moments. And so far, that appears to be who he is as a head coach. Spanoulis made his EuroLeague head coaching debut in November and is now back at the Final Four, an event he dominated many times in his playing days.

The same basketball IQ and drive for excellence that defined Spanoulis as a guard have made him a special head coach. After retiring from playing in 2021, he began his head coaching career a year later with Peristeri Athens. And he needed only two seasons to show that he was ready for prime time.

Only 42 years old, Spanoulis is young enough to connect with his players and has built a special bond with All-EuroLeague guard Mike James, among other players. Will those bonds be enough to take this Monaco bunch over the hump and to the crown? Based on how Spanoulis ruled as a player at the Final Four, it would be dangerous to bet against him. As a player, he was 5-0 in EuroLeague Semifinals. Spanoulis is now two wins from history.

**If Monaco wins…** Spanoulis would become the first coach to win the EuroLeague in his first season coaching in the competition since Zeljko Obradovic did so with Partizan Belgrade in 1992.

Frankie Sachs analyses the four play-callers at the Final Four

As we continue to build up to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens star Cedi Osman hopped aboard the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the Greens' pre-Final Four Media Day. 

Cedi Osman takes center stage on the pre-Final Four EuroLeague & Friends podcast

As we continue to build up to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) star [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/) hopped aboard the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the Greens' pre-Final Four Media Day. 

They discussed why his nickname is "the first Jedi", his adjustment to Greece, the love he gets from Panathinaikos fans, the fact he will play another Turkish team after eliminating Efes in playoffs, plus much more. Mathias Lessort even came with some other Panathinaikos teammates to do a selfie with Osman mid-podcast!

There is a lot of familiarity among the four teams that will challenge for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crown at the Final Four in Abu Dhabi. 

The many crossed paths of the 2025 Final Four participants 

There is a lot of familiarity among the four teams that will challenge for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crown at the Final Four in Abu Dhabi. The rosters and coaching staffs of [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/), [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/), [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) and [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) feature many players who have suited up for more than one of those teams and many former teammates who will square off against one another.

### The coaches know each other well

Let's start with the four head coaches. AS Monaco head coach Vassilis Spanoulis won his last EuroLeague title in 2013 when he led Olympiacos to a 100-88 win over Real Madrid in the championship game. Spanoulis was then coached by current Olympiacos boss Georgios Bartzokas.

Olympiacos's Georgios Bartzokas and Monaco's Vassilis Spanoulis embrace before the Round 32 meeting between the two teams.

Spanoulis and current Fenerbahce head coach Saras Jasikevicius were teammates when Panathinaikos won the EuroLeague in 2009. That marked Saras's fourth championship and was Spanoulis's first of three. Both Spanoulis and Jasikevicius now have the chance to become the fourth person to win the EuroLeague as both a player and coach.

How does Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman fit in? Ataman won the 2021 championship game against Barca, which was coached by Jasikevicius. In 2022, Anadolu Efes Istanbul downed Olympiacos 74-77 in the semifinals on a three-point shot by Vasilije Micic, which allowed Ataman's team to knock off Bartzokas's squad. Ataman has eliminated Fenerbahce twice in the semifinals, with Efes in 2019 and with Panathinaikos in 2024, stopping Saras from reaching another championship game.

Ataman has also coached one of Fenerbahce's top scorers. [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/) and Ataman teamed up at Efes in the second part of the 2017-18 season. Before that, they led Galatasaray to the 2016 EuroCup championship, with the latter McCollum earning EuroCup MVP honors.

### Sloukas reigns supreme

Panathinaikos star guard [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) is entering his 11th Final Four; he was also present in 2009, but did not appear in any game. Sloukas has led three of this year's Final Four teams to EuroLeague glory. He won back-to-back titles with Olympiacos in 2012 and 2013 and added crowns with Fenerbahce in 2017 and Panathinaikos last year. He is one of two players to win the EuroLeague with three different teams; Jasikevicius is the other. Sloukas is 8-2 in the EuroLeague semifinals, and his two losses came against Coach Ataman: against Efes with Fenerbahce in 2019 and against Olympiacos in 2022.

Kostas Sloukas celebrates with the 2024 EuroLeague trophy and his Final Four MVP award.

Two more players have won the EuroLeague with a potential Final Four opponent. [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) of Monaco won his only championship with Panathinaikos in 2011. Should Calathes win in Abu Dhabi, he would take the record for the longest gap between crowns, which is currently held by Dino Meneghin (1976 Varese, 1987 Milan). [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) of Olympiacos lifted the trophy with Panathinaikos last season. If he wins this season, Vildoza would become the first player to win the EuroLeague with both Greek giants in consecutive seasons.

Sloukas is not the only player to have played for three of this year's Final Four teams. Calathes had two stints with Panathinaikos and was with Fenerbahce last season. Monaco center Georgios Papagiannis made it to the 2021-22 All-EuroLeague Second Team with the Greens and also played for Fenerbahce in the 2023-24 campaign. Amazingly, the 2017 EuroLeague Championship Game between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce featured players or coaches from all four teams present at the 2025 Final Four: Olympiacos ([Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/), [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/)), Panathinaikos (Sloukas, [Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/)), Fenerbahce ([Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/), [Melih Mahmutoglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/melih-mahmutoglu/002969/)) and Monaco (Coach Spanoulis).

### But wait, there's more

[Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) of Monaco and [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) of Fenerbahce were Brose Baskets Bamberg teammates for two seasons. [Petr Cornelie](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/petr-cornelie/004790/) of Monaco and [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) of Olympiacos helped Real Madrid win the EuroLeague in 2023. Panathinaikos center [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/) made his professional debut with Fenerbahce as a teenager in 2014 and spent parts of two seasons with the club.

Daniel Theis and Nicolo Melli in action for Brose Bamberg.

[Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) of Olympiacos played for Monaco during the 2014-15 season, when the club was in the French second division. Fall has teamed with Evan Fournier and Monaco's Cornelie, [Terry Tarpey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/terry-tarpey/012515/) and [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) on the French national team. At EuroBasket 2022, Fall, Fournier, Tarpey and Okobo won silver medals. Before that, Fall, Fournier and Cornelie took silver medals at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Fall also teamed with [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) of Monaco at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne during the 2020-21 season.

Papanikolaou and [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/) played together in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. Likewise, [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) of Olympiacos, Birch and Panathinaikos guard [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/) were teammates at the NBA's Orlando Magic.

[Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) of Olympiacos, [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) of Fenerbahce and [Marius Grigonis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marius-grigonis/002328/) of Panathinaikos spent two seasons together with Zalgiris Kaunas, and were all coached by Jasikevicius in the 2019-20 campaign. [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) of Fenerbahce and [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) of Olympiacos were Efes teammates that same season. Peters went on to play for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 2021-22 season and teamed up with Vildoza. A year later, Peters shared the floor with Fenerbahce's [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Nigel Hayes-Davis and Marius Grigonis on the floor together during their time at Zalgiris Kaunas.

Many Panathinaikos players are connected to other teams and players, too. Like Sloukas, Papapetrou made his EuroLeague debut with Olympiacos and played there for five years. [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) won the 2020-21 EuroCup with Monaco. [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) played one season with Fenerbahce and had Baldwin and [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv teammates in each of the last two seasons. And in his only season with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, [Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/) shared the floor with Melli and [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/).

So there will be many old friends at the games in Abu Dhabi, but when the Final Four tips off they will more importantly be basketball rivals.

Familiar faces and former teammates are set to fight for Turkish Airlines EuroLeague glory in Abu Dhabi

Don’t miss your chance to see the brightest prospects in European basketball when the 2025 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals land in Abu Dhabi. Between May 22 and 25, the 22nd edition of the NextGen Finals will take place as eight teams come together with one goal in mind: becoming the champion.

Tickets for 2025 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals Abu Dhabi now on sale

Don’t miss your chance to see the brightest prospects in European basketball when the 2025 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals land in Abu Dhabi. Between May 22 and 25, the 22nd edition of the NextGen Finals will take place as eight teams come together with one goal in mind: becoming the champion.

Tickets [can now be purchased here](https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/99199/2025-adidas-nextgen-euroleague-finals-abu-dhabi) or at [www.f4tickets.com](http://www.f4tickets.com). Day tickets are available from AED 60, while you can get a four-day pass for the entire tournament for AED 160. Scout packages are also on offer, which includes a series of benefits for international scouts.

The NextGen Finals, the world's premier club-based junior basketball event, will feature eight elite teams divided into two groups:

- Group A: Mega Super Belgrade, FC Barcelona, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Dubai Basketball
- Group B: Pole France INSEP Paris, Real Madrid, Zalgiris Kaunas and Overtime Elite

There will be 12 group-stage games that take place over the first three days [– from Thursday, May 22, to Saturday, May 24](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/2024-25-nextgen-finals-teams-and-calendar-announced/) – will be played at the Mubadala Arena, where Sunday’s championship game between the two group winners will also be held.

See the full game schedule below:

U18 Dubai Basketball v U18 FC Barcelona (2025-05-22T06:00:00.000Z)

U18 Pole France INSEP Paris v U18 Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-05-22T10:30:00.000Z)

U18 Real Madrid v U18 Overtime Elite (2025-05-22T12:45:00.000Z)

Big Brazilian Bruno Caboclo was a force in the paint – and on the perimeter – from the day he joined Hapoel Tel Aviv

Tribute to the champs: Bruno Caboclo

Training camp was already underway when [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) announced that it had signed [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) and it was nothing short of a "wow" moment. While Caboclo would not be the final piece to the championship puzzle, it was absolutely a building block. 

The Brazilian big was a formidable asset for Hapoel, whether taking on starring or supporting roles. As the backup to [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/), he made sure Hapoel had 40 minutes of strong center play every night. When he played alongside Motley, Hapoel had a long and versatile frontline that few could handle. And when Motley missed games, stepped up to hold down the fort.

Caboclo was Hapoel’s most productive player on [opening night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs1-report-jov-hta/) with 14 points and a PIR of 18 at Joventut Badalona. In the first game that Motley missed, Caboclo posted a double-double [against Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-stays-atop-group-a-by-downing-hapoel-90-82/). His best game of the season came [in Round 14](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/total-team-effort-was-key-to-hapoels-thrashing-of-trento/) when the big man posted 19 points and 9 boards in [an 89-68 blowout of Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-cruises-past-trento-89-68/). 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a play by <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HapoelTLVBC</a>! 😤<br><br>Bullet pass from Yam Madar for a huge dunk by Bruno Caboclo after a crafty pump fake! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/26W3hZdhEI">pic.twitter.com/26W3hZdhEI</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1874930036241015207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Come the postseason, Caboclo left his mark with strong efforts in limited minutes. He missed only one postseason game – and that was the lone game Hapoel lost. Caboclo posted 5 points and 6 rebounds in the [quarterfinals victory over Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-fights-off-turk-telekom-moves-into-semifinals/). He played the entirety of the fourth quarter in the decisive [Game 3 of the semifinals against Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-found-new-go-to-guys-and-made-history/). Caboclo helped turn the tide in [Game 1 of the finals against Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-beats-gran-canaria-74-65-in-finals-opener/) with 5 second-quarter points and would total 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in the two-game sweep.

Over 23 EuroCup games this season, Caboclo averaged 7.4 points by making 59.0% of his two-pointers and 39.0% of his threes. He added 3.7 blocks, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks in 17:19 minutes per game. Hapoel could not have turned in such a spectacular season without him.

The big Brazilian was a force in the paint – and on the perimeter – from the day he joined Hapoel