By George Adamopoulos/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Vildoza’s stint with Panathinaikos lasted only one season — but what a season it was.
The 31-year-old Argentine point guard was part of the team that helped Panathinaikos return to the top of the EuroLeague after 13 years. Not to mention the reverse sweep against Olympiacos in the Stoiximan GBL Finals.
Now playing for Virtus Bologna, Vildoza turned back the clock for Eurohoops and Final Four Stories by Stoiximan to May 26, 2024, when he went from a DNP in the semifinal against Fenerbahce (73-57) to climbing the baskets inside Berlin’s Uber Arena to cut down the nets after the final victory over Real Madrid (95-80).
And although the stat sheet showed only 3 points (1/1 from three to make it 46-45 in the 18th minute), 1 rebound and 1 turnover in 13:16 minutes played, Vildoza explained his overall contribution — from providing a spark off the bench to standing on the podium during the trophy ceremony and joining the celebratory “parade” toward OAKA, fully validating the words of head coach Ergin Ataman.
“We were kind of shocked. We took it as a show because he always has interesting quotes after interviews, so we were checking the news to see what he said. At the time, we were like, ‘There’s no chance we can make it,’ but he was right, so we have to respect that,” Vildoza said about Ataman’s prediction.
He then explained his role during the Final Four.
“I didn’t play in the semifinal, so I was kind of relaxed. I believed I wasn’t even going to have a chance to step on the court — maybe just to play a few seconds of defense. But in the end, the coach trusted me because we weren’t in a good moment as a team, and it worked out really well.
I was a plus in that game. I had faced Madrid many times before, I know Facu and a lot of their players. It wasn’t about my defense, points or assists — I think I changed the energy of the game. The others kind of followed that energy, and we ended up playing really well.
Sloukas made a clutch shot to end the first half, and I think that changed the whole perspective of the game. After that, we really played great.”
The celebrations followed shortly after.
“I was with my wife, with my family. The team, we had a really good connection. It was amazing because it felt warm. It felt really, really good. I just remember the celebration after we landed at the airport. People were going crazy, riding bikes under the sun. We were very, very tired, but it was just an amazing, amazing feeling.”