By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
ATHENS – La Laguna Tenerife completing the Basketball Champions League Final Four powered by Sunel in fourth place fell well shy of expectations. However, the team located in the Canary Islands is likely to be back, contending for titles, especially Giorgi Shermadini.
In a third-place game opposite AEK Betsson in Sunel Arena, the 36-year-old Georgian center grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and 13 overall. Efficiency in the paint was not enough for a win, but he upped his BCL total to 501. He became the second player with 500 boards in league history, joining his teammate Tim Abromaitis on the list.
A lasting original and two-time champion in Tenerife, several records are attached to the club, including a league-high six features in the Semifinals of the top-tier club continental competition of Europe. Shermadini has been around for the last four berths among the last four remaining teams.
“First of all, congratulations to AEK,” the experienced big mentioned in a media session following the conclusion of the Final Four 2025 with a losing effort against host AEK Betsson in Athens on Sunday.
The team coached by Txus Vidorreta reached the second-ending tournament with a perfect 14-0 tally. Undefeated in Group C of the Regular Season and Group K of the Round of 16, before a two-game sweep versus Bertram Derthona Tortona to seal a ticket to Athens. However, the Final Four efforts featured meltdowns against Galatasaray in the Semifinals and AEK in the third-place contest.
“This was a big mistake, losing after leading by so many points, but this is basketball,” the BCL champion in 2022 commented on dropping commanding leads stretching to 15 points on Friday and 17 points on Sunday, “It happens to everyone.”
After extending his professional career to Greece, Slovenia, Italy, Israel, and Spain, Shermadini landed in Tenerife in 2019. Club loyalty went from the Champions League title to two FIBA Intercontinental Cup triumphs in 2020 and 2023 and two Liga Endesa Most Valuable Player nods for the 2020-21 and 2022-23 journeys.
Becoming a two-time BCL champion was not the case in the capital of Greece, but the towering center is happy at Tenerife.
“We will keep going,” he talked about the future of the club, “I don’t know how many years I will continue playing, but I feel good here.”
With longtime president Felix Hernandez set to retire following the 2024-25 season, Shermadini echoed recent comments of his trusted sidekick Marcelinho Huertas and play-caller Vidorreta on intentions to build on success of recent years and continue contributing to club growth.
Photo Credit: FIBA