By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
ATHENS — Facing severe frontcourt injuries, Real Madrid head coach Sergio Scariolo and forward Mario Hezonja previewed the championship game of the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad.
The Spanish powerhouse is set to face Olympiacos in the championship game at Telekom Center Athens on Sunday, marking a record-breaking fifth time these two historic giants will battle for the continental crown. Making their 15th Final Four appearance, the 11-time champions currently hold a 3–1 advantage over the Greek club in previous Finals, with Olympiacos‘s sole victory coming back in 2013.
Speaking at Saturday’s official championship game press conference at Telekom Center Athens, 65-year-old Scariolo balanced pride with intense focus. “We are glad to be here, but at the same time we are still demanding of ourselves,” noted the veteran tactician. “We don’t want to stop fighting, stop preparing, stop competing.”
Acknowledging the uphill battle against the home side, he continued, “We are aware that the opponent is the worst of the best, considering angles you might see, but at the same time, I think we are here for a reason. We are here because we’ve been growing and getting better consistently throughout the whole season.”
Despite the adversity, Scariolo maintained confidence in his squad’s trajectory, adding, “Olympiacos deserves absolutely the first seed, the position they are in, and we know they are going to be a super tough opponent. At the same time, we are in a good spot, and we want to play our cards until the very end of the game.”
The 31-year-old forward briefly framed the magnitude of Sunday’s contest by calling the finalists, “two historic giants of the EuroLeague.”
Center Usman Garuba suffered an injury during the semifinal against Valencia, joining the already sidelined Walter Tavares and Alex Len. This leaves Scariolo forced to play small ball by utilizing forwards like Trey Lyles, Gabriel Deck, and Hezonja to match the physical size of their opponents. The Croatian import addressed the adversity facing the Spanish club, emphasizing the mental grit required to overcome their heavily depleted frontline.
“Obviously, experience plays a big part at this stage. Obviously, with a few unfortunate circumstances with the roster, you have to figure out the way,” mentioned Hezonja.
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