By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The traditional pre-tournament press conference for the EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, at the Onassis Foundation on Thursday, ignited the competitive fuse for Friday’s Semifinals at the Telekom Center Athens.
Fenerbahce Beko’s head coach, Sarunas Jasikevicius, highlighted structural growth, explaining how the defending champions transformed a defense-first identity early in the 2025-26 season into a more balanced, potent offensive unit, further bolstered by key veteran signings. While acknowledging his personal history in Athens, he remained strictly focused on execution, a sentiment mirrored by veteran guard Nando de Colo, who intends to savor every moment of his final championship run before his impending retirement.
Their semifinal opponents, local powerhouses Olympiacos, carry a seasoned perspective into the championship weekend. Play-caller Giorgos Bartzokas downplayed the psychological advantage of competing on home soil, emphasizing that standard preparation and collective resilience matter far more than geographic comfort. For veteran forward Kostas Papanikolaou, extensive experience has not dimmed his competitive hunger, as he remains deeply focused on creating new winning memories rather than resting on past achievements.
On the other side of the bracket, Real Madrid approaches a domestic derby opposite Valencia through the lens of collective depth. Facing major frontcourt adversity due to injuries, decorated tactician Sergio Scariolo maintained a grounded perspective, framing the tournament as a pursuit of excellence rather than an obsession. Guard Facundo Campazzo reinforced this mindset, stating that the roster possesses the necessary defensive and offensive versatility to compensate for injured Walter Tavares and Alex Len.
Meanwhile, the Taronges enter the Final Four with the poised mentality of an ambitious contender. Head coach Pedro Martinez asserted that his side’s confidence stems from daily preparation and identity rather than recent solid results in Europe’s premier club competition, while guard Jean Montero confirmed that the entire squad is mentally locked in to embrace the competitive challenge.