By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid is playing at home and that was evident from the second quarter. In theory this should have been a balanced game, but the “Whites” got an easy 96-87 win over Fenerbahce thanks to a great finish in the first half.
The partial score of this particular period was 35-14 and the Turks just couldn’t get back into the game after that. The heroes of the game proved to be K.C.Rivers (17 p.) and Gustavo Ayon (18 p.), while Sergio Rodriguez had 13 points and 7 assists. Andres Nocioni also was a key figure in the game with his energy, his defense and also 12 points.
Jan Vesely had 20 points for Fenerbahce and Andrew Goudelock added 26, however nothing really worked on both ends of the floor for the team of coach Obradovic, who was defeated by his former player and now coach in Real Madrid, Pablo Laso. The focus of the hosts was incredible as they finished the game with just four turnovers against 13 of Fenerbahce. Τhe best Fenerbahce could do was cut the lead to 10 points (92-82) with two minutes to go.
It’s the third straigh final for Real which will face Olympiacos, like it happened in 1995 in Zaragoza and also in 2014 in London. Real won in 1995 for the last time in its history.