Name: Marko Simonovic: 'We played an amazing game'
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Bahcesehir College Istanbul center Marko Simonovic spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team defeated Dreamland Gran Canaria in Game 1 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals. 

Marko Simonovic: 'We played an amazing game'

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Bahcesehir College Istanbul-Dreamland Gran Canaria | SF Game 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Bahcesehir College Istanbul is one win away from the BKT EuroCup Finals after defeating former champion Dreamland Gran Canaria 74-66 in the opening game of their best-of-three semifinals series at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall

Bahcesehir overpowers Gran Canaria 74-66 in Game 1 of semifinals

Bahcesehir College Istanbul is one win away from the BKT EuroCup Finals after defeating former champion Dreamland Gran Canaria 74-66 in the opening game of their best-of-three semifinals series at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall. After trailing by 5 in the opening quarter, Axel Bouteille fueled a 13-0 run for the hosts who held on the rest of the way.

The lead would reach 18 at one point, before Gran Canaria was able to rally within 5 in the fourth quarter. However Marko Simonovic made sure Bahcesehir held on for the victory by scoring 10 of his game-high 20 points in the last period. Simonovic also posted 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in a brilliant performance, while Bouteille finished with 15 points for the winners. Mike Tobey posted 14 points for Gran Canaria in defeat.

Game Videos

Bahcesehir opened the scoring with a second-chance three-pointer from CJ Massinburg before Gran Canaria got going with a pair of jumpers. Bouteille and John Shurna traded threes to make it 8-8. Tobey stepped up with a slam and a three to put the visitors ahead and Joe Thomasson broke down his defender for a layup and a 10-15 lead. Bouteille scored 5 straight points to tie things and then he fed Sehmus Hazer for a go-ahead triple. Simonovic added a slam before Bouteille scored again to complete a 13-0 run. A long jumper by Caleb Homesley drew Gran Canaria within 27-21 after 10 minutes.

After a layup by Hazer, Furkan Korkmaz's free throws gave the hosts a double-digit lead. Korkmaz added a three-pointer for a 34-21 lead. Homesley free throws ended a 3+ minute scoring drought, but Bahcesehir continued to roll as Jaleen Smith connected from deep and Korkmaz got to the line, prompting a Gran Canaria timeout. Shurna stepped up with 3 free throws and a three-pointer to narrow the gap to 40-29. Bahcesehir used its rebounding prowess to overpower the visitors and Tyler Cavanaugh's three-pointer made it 47-33. The half ended with the home team ahead 49-37.

Game News

Cavanaugh knocked down a three and Simonovic added a jumper as Bahcesehir extended its lead to 17, which prompted a Gran Canaria timeout. The stoppage changed little as the hosts continued to score almost at will. The visitors showed signs of life with a Nicolas Brussino three and a Homesley jumper to get within 59-46. George Conditt helped Gran Canaria continue to chip away at the deficit and Mehdy Ngouma's three-pointer ended the low-scoring third quarter with the score 62-52.

Ngouma scored twice to get Gran Canaria within 7 early in the fourth quarter as the Bahcesehir attack stalled. Thomasson picked off a pass and cashed it in for a layup that made it 64-59. That was as close as Gran Canaria would get as Simonovic scored on the next two possessions. The visitors continued to fight, but the clock became an opponent, too, and Bahcesehir was able to hold on in the final minutes.

Marko Simonovic was the star performer for the winners with 20 points and 8 rebounds

Ergin Ataman, head coach of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, has been sanctioned with a fine of €10,000 for actions that caused the abnormal interruption of a game on occasion of its home game against Alba Berlin under 27.2.a) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code. The decision may be appealed before the Appeals Judge.

Latest disciplinary sanctions

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary decision pertaining to incidents that occurred in Round 30 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

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**Community Partner:**  Corendon Tourism Group, ZİÇEV, and Muratpaşa Municipality

**Social Issue:** Disabilities - Intellectual disabilities

**Ambassador**: Erkan Yilmaz

**Main Life Skills:** Communication, Decision making, Problem solving, Motivation, Respect, Responsibility, Self-confidence, Teamwork

**About the program:**

Anadolu Efes Istanbul 2024-2025 One Team project has been designed to promote disability equality and foster social inclusion among children with intellectual disabilities in Antalya, Turkey. This One Team program aims to harness the healing power of basketball to support participants in developing their social skills and integrating into society. By collaborating with local partners, Corendon Tourism Group, ZİÇEV, and Muratpaşa Municipality, Anadolu Efes seeks to create a meaningful impact on the lives of these children and their families.

The initiative aims to empower families by instilling pride in their children's achievements. By expanding the One Team project to Antalya, Anadolu Efes hopes to increase its impact and convey the spirit of teamwork and inclusion through the involvement of young coaches in the region.

The program will target 20 participants, aged 12 to 25, all from the Foundation for the Education and Protection of Mentally Handicapped Children (ZİÇEV). Sessions will be held in the Muratpaşa District of Antalya, utilizing facilities provided by the municipality. To ensure the program's success, a dedicated team will be assembled, including three One Team Coaches, three Special Education Teachers, and two Psychologists. Volunteers from the Anadolu Efes Fan Club in Antalya and Corendon employees will also play a crucial role, assisting coaches and participants during sessions to create a supportive and inclusive environment.

Through this collaborative effort, Anadolu Efes Sports Club aims to create lasting change for participants, their families, and the community at large. The One Team project in Antalya is more than just a basketball program; it represents a commitment to disability equality, social inclusion, and empowerment. By bringing together experienced partners and a shared vision, this initiative will demonstrate that basketball has the power to heal, unite, and uplift, ultimately proving that everyone deserves a chance to thrive.

Our programs - Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Roberta Meneghel has made significant strides in the world of basketball, not only as a player but also as a dedicated advocate for social inclusion. She joined Umana Reyer Venice in 2010, where she concluded her playing career – she still represented the Italian national team until 2013 – before transitioning into a management role and eventually becoming the Responsible Manager of Social Programs. She is also into her third year as the club’s One Team Manager.

Roberta Meneghel: An ex-pro giving back to society by collaborating with Reyer, One Team

Roberta Meneghel has made significant strides in the world of basketball, not only as a player but also as a dedicated advocate for social inclusion. She joined [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) in 2010, where she concluded her playing career – she still represented the Italian national team until 2013 – before transitioning into a management role and eventually becoming the Responsible Manager of Social Programs. She is also into her third year as the club’s One Team Manager.

Reyer’s One Team project has been operating for five years, with the club currently in the fourth consecutive year of its cooperation with Coges Don Milani, which focuses on minors in the community. As Roberta explained in an interview for the One Team website, Reyer placed a focus on those who are at risk of exclusion when it came to deciding which group it wanted to focus its efforts on.

“We started thinking about what groups are in danger of exclusion in our community and we thought that a current theme was the inclusion of foreigners coming to Italy from another country,” she explained. “Basketball is a sport without borders so we thought it could be a good connection. We contacted the social workers of Coges Don Milani, Ms. Valentina Vianello, and explained our One Team project; as she played basketball, she fell in love since the beginning.

“She explained to us the aim of the community and the stories of the kids and how we could be useful for their needs. The community takes care of minors coming from different countries, reported by the authorities, to help them to become new and good citizens. They create a program for each one, helping with the documents, with the language, making them study and ensuring they are independent when they become 18.

“The objective of the program is to make the minors feel part of a community, teaching them how to relate with other people, observing rules, being friendly and polite, focus on learning a new sport and put any effort to solve problems and limits.”

One big positive from Reyer’s One Team work is the real-life impact those involved with the project are able to see among the participants, particularly after sessions. “We can see clearly the benefits of the project at the end of every season," he said. "The most beautiful thing is to see how they thank us after every practice, how they have improved with the language, with the rules.

“For example, being responsible by bringing their One Team T-shirt to every practice (it seems banal, but it isn’t), cleaning the bench, not disturbing while the coach is talking… things that at the beginning were not considered before, but day by day we see how they now think about it. Another positive aspect we noticed increasing day by day is the capacity to trust us and feel comfortable with us. Treating them good but strict when it’s necessary, making them laugh and trying to learn their language helped us to be accepted so they can really feel safe in that space.

“Having every year a new group is itself a challenge, because every year we have to start over without knowing which kind of group we will have,” she added. “The minors come from different countries, with different cultures, different languages, so every year we need to find the right key to communicate with them, to make them communicate with each other and accept their teammates, because we are all One Team. If they see that everyone is treated good, if they act good and all their efforts are rewarded, they will recognize it.”

In order to give the participants added motivation during the session, two first-team players at Reyer have shown their support for the program by making sure they are in attendance whenever they can.

“This year we have two One Team Ambassadors, Davide Casarin and Juan Fernandez,” she stated. “They make an extra effort to be as present as possible at the sessions, like their teammates, since they almost always practice at the same time as us. But when they come, the participants are so happy because they can play with them, take selfies and follow their example. When they understand that they are playing with famous athletes, they look at them with a different eye, and they recognize how blessed they are to have this unique experience.”

For Roberta, her reason for being involved with One Team is clear.

“I love social projects and I love being useful, so when Reyer talked about the One Team project and asked me to be the manager of it I literally fall in love with,” she said. “The idea of helping youth at risk to find a motivation, to believe that the world is not so bad, giving them hope and fun with the instrument of basketball, that is my life. It was a dream for me. Sports teach people to live; most of the participants survived tragedies, so helping them to see a light after the tunnel is an inspiration for me, too.”

It is also important that Roberta and the other One Team Managers at Reyer are able to show the participants something that may not be the norm in the countries they are from.

“The first time I went to take them with the minibus, they looked at me thinking, ‘Oh wow, a woman driving a minibus?’. Then they recognized that I was also good at it and they were fighting to come into my minibus… also because I let them play their music and I sing with them! It’s also funny looking their face when Valentina and I shoot the ball. They are like, ‘Damn, they also good at’. This helps us to show them a different point of view.”

Reyer has already done so much as part of its One Team program, but how is the club hoping to take things to the next level?

“We are thinking about new experiences that can give them something new, not only related with basketball,” Roberta explained. “Fortunately the project has a good visibility on social media and in the newspapers, and a video of the practice with the journalists was also broadcasted on regional TV news. The goal is to implement the activities to have even more impact. We’d like that everyone knows that Reyer is not only a sport club but also a social club, with many activities for the community.”

Given the way in which she has been able to have such a profound impact on many participants’ lives, Roberta is the right person to offer some advice to any other teams that may look to replicate the same level of success.

“First of all, having a good structure is fundamental,” she said. “Also having resources and finding the right people. The coach has to understand the focus of the project and the club has to understand the importance of a social activity. Media outlets and social media are crucial to spreading the voice and helping to find partners. Partners must be involved in practices and activities because they need to know why they are so important. There are many communities or associations to work with, so it’s important to find the one that can fit the club.”

Roberta Meneghel's journey from a professional athlete to a social advocate exemplifies the transformative power of sports. Through Reyer’s One Team program, she is making a lasting impact on the lives of many participants, proving that basketball is indeed a sport that transcends borders and fosters community spirit.

She is positively impacting the lives of many young migrants

Igor Petrinovic explains why he can see Bahcesehir College Istanbul lifting the EuroCup trophy this season.

Why Bahcesehir can win the EuroCup

Defense wins championships, right? And the secret of [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/)’s success is the team’s defense.

Coach [Dejan Radonjic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/radonjic-dejan/) has put together a roster to his liking, one that will have enough on offense to cause opposition play-callers a headache (Bahcesehir is averaging a respectable 82.2 points), but also one that will shine on defense. And his squad has played some stellar defense this season.

This Bahcesehir side allows the fewest points (75.1 ppg.) in the EuroCup this season. It also holds opponents to a league-low in rebounds (32.6 rpg.), allows the third-fewest assists (16.3) and holds opponents to 51.3% two-point shooting, the third-lowest mark this season.

Bahcesehir has held opponent to 70 points or fewer in eight games this season, and in four more it allowed 76 or fewer.

Jaleen Smith Top Plays of the 2024 Regular Season

Jaleen Smith is the leader for Bahcesehir

Bahcesehir also understands how important it is to take care of the ball as it commits a EuroCup-low 11.2 turnovers. That part of the game is a product of the team’s experience.

The likes of [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/), [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/), [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) and [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) have played a lot of EuroCup and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague basketball, so they certainly understand the importance how every possession matters.

Also, those four might be the team leaders, but Bahcesehir has a deep roster and its frontcourt is among the most dangerous in the competition, with the inside force of [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/), the long range-shooting of [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/), and a bit of both from [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/).

Add the X-factor called [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) into the equation and the importance of getting [CJ Massinburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/cj-massinburg/011821/) and Pontika back after long absences, as well as mid-season playmaking addition of [Kenan Sipahi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-sipahi/005275/) fitting in like a glove, and Bahcesehir seems ready to make a push for the throne.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">👉 BKT EuroCup Yarı Final ilk maçında, evimizde 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚’yı konuk ediyoruz!<br><br>🗓️ 25 Mart Salı<br>⏰ 20.00<br>📍 Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu<br><br>❤️💙 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyHighTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyHighTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HayalDe%C4%9FilHedef?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HayalDeğilHedef</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/unR3iWWYNs">pic.twitter.com/unR3iWWYNs</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1903701306180550863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This group of guys are certainly hungry for success because, among all the names listed above, there are no EuroCup titles next to their name. There are many EuroCup finals, and semifinals and quarterfinals appearances, but no championships.

This team, these players and their head coach have not been flashy, but steady. And showcased they know how to win games. They certainly can win four more and go all the way.

Igor Petrinovic explains why he can see the club from Istanbul is going all this way

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-03-28T20:00:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv announced on Tuesday that swingman Marial Shayok will miss three weeks with a shoulder injury

Maccabi loses Marial Shayok to shoulder injury

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv announced on Tuesday that swingman [Marial Shayok](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marial-shayok/011202/) will miss three weeks with a shoulder injury, which effectively ends his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. Shayok, 29, suffered the injury on Sunday in an Israeli league victory over Hapoel Holon and after he underwent an MRI, he was ruled out for three weeks. Shayok appeared in 20 EuroLeague games this season, his first with Maccabi and second in the competition, during which he averaged 5.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">עדכון לגבי מריאל שאיוק &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/UjdyXJoU6o">https://t.co/UjdyXJoU6o</a> <a href="https://t.co/scBLymuhQO">pic.twitter.com/scBLymuhQO</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱 (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1904439304492900864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More on Maccabi Tel Aviv

The injury effectively ends his EuroLeague season

The final five players to make the All-25 EuroLeague Team are revealed

All 25 members of the All-25 EuroLeague Team are now known as Rudy Fernandez, Saras Jasikevicius, Shane Larkin, Manu Ginobili and Kostas Sloukas have been voted among the 25 greatest players in the history of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

These legends complete an all-star group that also contains Luka Doncic, Milos Teodosic, Dejan Bodiroga, Georgios Printezis, Walter Tavares, Dimitris Diamantidis, Mike James, Vasilije Micic, Anthony Parker, Sergio Rodriguez, Nando De Colo, Sergio Llull, Ramunas Siskauskas, Vassilis Spanoulis, Nikola Vujcic, Mike Batiste, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kyle Hines, Juan Carlos Navarro and Theo Papaloukas.

The selection process for the All-25 EuroLeague Team combined the votes of EuroLeague head coaches who had won a championship, past All-Decade Team members and MVPs, media representatives and fans. The coaches and playing greats each made up 40% of the final vote, and the media and fans were 10% each.

### Shane Larkin

A dynamic guard who has helped change the EuroLeague landscape, [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) has never stopped thrilling basketball fans across the continent with his breathtaking performances. Larkin is currently in his seventh season with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, the club he helped lead to back-to-back EuroLeague titles and another championship game appearance. In addition to the trophies and personal accolades, which include two All-EuroLeague selections and three monthly MVP awards, Larkin has left a lasting legacy in the competition with his individual performances along the way.

Often unguardable as he pairs his explosiveness when going to the rim with unlimited shooting range, Larkin has dominated games like no other player in the EuroLeague this century since making his competition debut with Baskonia in 2016-17. Testament to that are his record 18 MVP of the Round honors, including an unprecedented four in a row in January 2020. Larkin is the only player in competition history who twice scored at least 40 points and twice made at least 10 triples. He also set a Final Four single-game record when he accumulated a 43 PIR in the 2019 semifinal win over Fenerbahce.

### Manu Ginobili

His time in the EuroLeague was short, but what an impact [Manu Ginobili](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/emanuel-ginobili/akx/) made. The Argentine was a major part of the legendary Virtus Segafredo Bologna side that became the first EuroLeague champion in 2001, averaging 15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals in the EuroLeague Finals as the Italian giant downed Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 3-2 in a five-game series. His performances in that series – and the fact he scored more points than anyone else – saw him named as the EuroLeague Finals MVP.

The next season, Ginobili led the EuroLeague in steals and was named to the 2001-02 All-EuroLeague First Team as Virtus made it back to the title decider, this time played as a one-legged championship game. While his team ended up losing to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Ginobili stood out by posting game-high totals of 27 points and a 34 PIR. That ended up being his final appearance in the EuroLeague, but the Argentinian guard finished with career averages of 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.8 steals in 44 games, having played an important role as one of the competition’s first star players.

### Rudy Fernandez

Few players have made such a big impact in the EuroLeague at such a young age as [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/), who averaged 15.8 points for Joventut Badalona in his rookie season as he took home the 2006-07 EuroLeague Rising Star award. The NBA lockout in 2011 allowed Rudy to return for his second campaign in the EuroLeague, playing the first eight games of the 2011-12 season with Real Madrid, but that stint lit the fuse for what would become a lasting relationship. In the summer of 2012, the Spaniard signed for *Los Blancos* and stayed there for a further 12 seasons, winning the EuroLeague championship in 2015, 2018 and 2023.

A legendary figure among Real Madrid fans, Fernandez was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team in back-to-back seasons, in 2012-13 and 2013-14, before being voted to the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2014-15. The do-it-all forward, who ranks joint fifth all-time in threes made (594) and third in steals (367), was a staple of the Real Madrid side that reasserted the club’s dominance in European basketball, with *Los Blancos* reaching eight Final Fours during his time at the club.

### Kostas Sloukas

When the lights shine the brightest, [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) really comes into his own. A four-time EuroLeague champion, the Greek guard is just the second player in competition history to have lifted the EuroLeague trophy with three different clubs (Olympiacos Piraeus 2012, 2013; Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 2017; Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 2024). Sloukas has made 20 appearances at the Final Four, the joint most all-time, and ranks in the top three in points (191, third), assists (67, third) and PIR (203, first) at European basketball’s showpiece event. Whether it has been with Olympiacos, Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos, Sloukas has put his fingerprints all over the Final Four.

For his career, Sloukas ranks eighth all-time in points scored (3,963), third in assists (1,843), and fourth in accumulated PIR (4,953). He spent eight EuroLeague seasons with Olympiacos across two spells, sandwiched between five campaigns with Fenerbahce, but his switch from the Reds to Panathinaikos in the summer of 2023 stunned the entire basketball world. It ended up providing dividends for Sloukas, who played an instrumental role – particularly as the Final Four MVP – in ending the Greens’ 13-year wait to become European champion.

### Saras Jasikevicius

A charismatic point guard with an off-the-charts basketball IQ, [Saras Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saras-jasikevicius/adg/) was one of the first superstars in the EuroLeague before becoming a successful head coach. Jasikevicius remains the only player to have won three consecutive EuroLeague titles this century. He helped FC Barcelona to win its first EuroLeague crown in 2003, then after moving to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, where he led arguably one of the best teams in the competition history, he raised back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2004 and 2005.

The Lithuanian guard was named to the 2003-04 and 2004-05 All-EuroLeague First Team and earned 2005 Final Four MVP honors, getting 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the championship game against Baskonia. Jasikevicius added a fourth EuroLeague title with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in 2009, becoming the first-ever player in European basketball history to win the EuroLeague with three different teams. Saras went on to play for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, then had a second stint with both Barcelona and Panathinaikos before finishing his career with Zalgiris Kaunas. Always ambitious, Jasikevicius set the bar high when it came to elite playmakers.

Fernandez, Jasikevicius, Larkin, Ginobili and Sloukas are the last individuals to be honored among the EuroLeague's 25 greatest players