By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The defense of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship by Panathinaikos Aktor extended into the Final Four of the 2024-25 season, after a win over Anadolu Efes in OAKA Altion on Tuesday.
“That’s the goal. That’s what we practice for. That’s what we’re playing all season long. To go to the Final Four. Now, over there it’s two tough games and we’re gonna try to get the eighth,” Juancho Hernangomez confirmed the goal of lifting the storied Greek club to an eighth EuroLeague title.
Following a win in a deciding Game 5 versus Efes, the 29-year-old Spanish big talked about his side progressing to the championship-crowning tournament, comparing postseason success between his two years with the Greens.
“Every year has ups and downs, different players. Mathias [Lessort] couldn’t help us this year. He was the best big last year,” he said, “Every season is different.”
“Last year, for me individually, was even tougher,” added Hernangomez, “I was in the hospital for ten days before Game 5 against Maccabi. And it was really emotional that Final Four, going there and winning in Berlin, in my first year in the Euroleague, but the feeling of winning is the best feeling ever. Nothing in life can give you that feeling, and we are fighting to get the feeling back.”
In Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, Panathinaikos will take on Fenerbahce Beko in a Semifinals matchup on May 23. The championship and third-place games follow on May 25.
“We gotta win two games. If you wanna win, be the EuroLeague champion, you gotta beat every team,” he replied to a question about a possible Finals encounter with archrival Olympiacos, “That’s the main thing.”
“They’re gonna come aggressive. Probably Saras is watching every single game. He knows all the tricks. You’re gonna be tough, but that one game, everything is possible,” he also focused on Fener and head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.