By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko is locked in and ready to defend its crown following the official opening press conference for the EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, held at the Onassis Foundation on Thursday. Head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius opened his statements by charting his team’s identity shift throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
“At the beginning of the season, we had to rely on defense a lot, especially when you cannot put the ball in the basket, pretty much. That’s the only thing that’s left to defend. I thought we should always be proud of the base of a lot of things that you’re trying to build in your program. At the same time, I thought we improved offensively as the year went on,” the 50-year-old Lithuanian play-caller explained, before nodding toward his star veteran Nando de Colo sitting right beside him. “Also, signing some important people. Hopefully, we can put this whole product on the court tomorrow.”
When pressed about his historic return to Athens, where he once starred on the court as a legendary playmaker, Saras quickly dismissed any sentimental distractions. “I think the coaches have been in that arena. I know Giorgos [Bartzokas] has an incredible record in that arena. That’s what you guys have been printing. Sidelines are pretty much the same everywhere. Like always, it’s a pleasure to come to OAKA. It will feel a lot different, from what I understand. But we are here to focus on one game, and to do the job, and hopefully to have a good 40 minutes. The rest is just a whole lot of talk,” the coach stated firmly.
Sharing the stage was the 38-year-old French guard, who brings an added layer of emotional stakes to Fener’s title defense. Revealing a profound personal milestone, he recently announced his impending retirement while expressing his gratitude for this final championship run. “It’s going to be my last season, and when I had this opportunity to join Fenerbahce, it was a great opportunity for me. I talked a lot with my wife, and we were on the same page. Let’s go,” he shared. “To be here, in this Final Four, is a great feeling, but as I say to everybody, enjoy the last moment. I will just enjoy the moment.”
The traditional pre-tournament event brought together the head coaches and star players from the continent’s top four clubs just one day before Friday’s blockbuster Semifinals at the Telekom Center Athens. The semifinal matchup opposite Olympiacos also serves as a reunion, as De Colo faces off against Alec Peters, his former teammate from their championship-winning 2018-19 season at CSKA, where he secured his second individual EuroLeague title.
The defending and two-time EuroLeague champions enter their eighth Final Four appearance in peak health, with center Jilson Bango (left knee surgery) listed as the lone unavailable player.