By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
ATHENS – A solid finish lifted Olympiacos over Real Madrid at Telekom Center Athens on Sunday, crowning the Greek powerhouse at the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad. Following the tense continental showdown, an emotional head coach Giorgos Bartzokas reflected on the crowning achievement of his team’s grueling 2025-26 season.
“I’m feeling great. We deserved it,” he mentioned during his postgame interview. “We suffered today. Real Madrid played an excellent game. That’s why this is a huge club. But we managed to win, although the pressure was all on our shoulders.”
The triumph marked a deeply personal milestone for the 60-year-old Greek play-caller, who secured his second EuroLeague championship following his maiden title over a decade ago, in 2013.
“I think we deserved it by the way we played the whole year, in the Playoffs, and the Final Four,” he said. “Congratulations to the owners, to the club, to the fans, everybody.”
Completing their 15th Final Four appearance, the Reds captured their fourth continental title, first since 2013, ironically playing at the home of their eternal rival.
Much of the tactical battle centered around neutralizing the offensive rhythm of Los Blancos, particularly stopping Trey Lyles, who exploded for 21 points early on before finishing with a game-high 24 points. Bartzokas broke down the strategic shift that neutralized the 30-year-old forward after the break.
“That’s what we said at halftime. We played switching defense on him, and sometimes we trapped him,” he explained the adjustments.
Olympiacos achieved the historic feat utilizing a deep roster, which allowed Moustapha Fall, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Monte Morris, Omiros Netzipoglou, and Frank Ntilikina to be healthy scratches, similar to the Semifinals, while playmaker Keenan Evans remained stuck on the injury list following left leg surgery.
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