By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Bruno Fernando is considered a game-time decision for Real Madrid en route to Game 1 of a best-of-five series versus Olympiacos.
The 26-year-old Angolan center has been slowed down by injuries over recent weeks. Upon progress, he was upgraded to questionable for the first meeting with the Reds in the 2025 Playoffs of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, by head coach Chus Mateo. He will travel to Greece with the rest of the team on Tuesday afternoon.
The former Maryland standout, a veteran of 227 NBA games, signed with Los Blancos in late January. Introducing himself to Europe’s premier club continental competition, Fernando tallied 5.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest over nine appearances in the bottom end of the 2024-25 Regular Season. His efforts in Spain’s Liga Endesa amount to 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
The team coached by Mateo finished seventh overall through the 34-game schedule and was reduced to the eighth seed on the playoff bracket during the Play-In Showdown. Consequently, top-seeded Olympiacos emerged as the opponent in a battle for a ticket to the 2025 Final Four. Game 1 will be played in the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Wednesday. Game 2 follows in the same venue on Friday.
Similar to the remaining members of the roster of the club based in the Spanish capital, the head coach of the Reds, Giorgos Bartzokas, confirmed all his players as healthy following team practice on Tuesday morning.