By Mike Gkioulenoglou/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the emotional EuroLeague triumph, the 2025–26 Regular Season Most Valuable Player and top scorer, Sasha Vezenkov, sat down with the Eurohoops Show, powered by PPC, to reflect on a journey to the title, underlining resilience, tactical identity, and deep organizational bonds.
Even when Madrid’s unconventional style allowed them to build a double-digit lead in the championship game of the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, the red-and-white MVP maintained complete confidence that the team would adjust. A huge part of this stability came down to the clear sharing of roles and their absolute acceptance by everyone on the roster. Talking about this monumental achievement, Vezenkov made it clear that at a club of Olympiacos‘ stature, celebration must quickly give way to the next objective.
Ultimately, the crowning moment was perfectly captured in a single line right after the buzzer. As the celebrations erupted, head coach Giorgos Bartzokas found his star player amidst the chaos, delivered a heartfelt hug, and whispered the definitive words of their campaign: “Sasha, we did it!”
“The season was long, difficult with ups and downs,” Vezenkov mentioned, acknowledging the exhausting road to the championship in Europe’s top-tier club competition. “So until today let’s be happy because, OK, club duties continue.”
Chaos, Roster Roles
When asked if the championship had lifted a metaphorical weight from his shoulders, the former NBA player admitted that the relief is real but fleeting. Revisiting the tense moments down the stretch against Madrid in the Final, the 30-year-old power forward noted how quickly complacency can be costly. “If you think that you’ve won, you will always be punished,” he said. “I think we made some mistakes.”
The tactical landscape of the championship game itself presented unexpected chaos, as the opponents were forced to alter their entire structure due to the sudden absence of their traditional rim protectors. The All-EuroLeague First Team forward detailed how this lack of a conventional center forced his squad to adapt on the fly to an unpredictable, perimeter-oriented attack.
“Look, I think that not even Real could have imagined that they would play a Final without a center,” the newly crowned European champion explained. “They had one day to prepare for it. I think for them it was something they would work out during the game.”
Beyond overcoming tactical adjustments, the ultimate victory was made possible by solving internal chemistry struggles that had plagued the team earlier in the season. The integration of high-profile players required a deliberate shuffling of roles, a transition that was unlocked when NBA veteran Evan Fournier made a selfless sacrifice to stabilize the rotations.
“There’s no need to repeat that Evan went to the second unit so we can find our roles, and that each one gained a clearer view to show his talent. He went to the second unit, and that’s how Tyler was maybe disentangled. Some possessions came to me, and I think that’s how the chemistry changed a bit, because until December, we were trying to find it,” he told Eurohoops.
Collective Depth
While long stretches between competitive postseason games risk forcing a team out of rhythm, Vezenkov noted that their collective mindset and physical readiness kept them insulated from any loss of momentum. He pointed to the unmatched internal competition and depth that propelled the roster forward, stating that the entire squad was on the same page regardless of whether an individual played one minute or 40 to contribute.
“Everyone was ready,” he stressed. “We have very good players. Players who can offer in a shorter time. Everyone knew their role, what they had to do for the team to win.”
When asked who deserved this redemption the most, Vezenkov pointed away from individual players and toward the entire organization.
“I think more for the people who have spent these five years, all this with the failures, with coming back, working. Let’s not mention names now, the presidents and the coach and the guys who work and the staff and for all the guys who were here for more years and had gone through all these trials,” he said.
The emotional weight carried over to the fans in Telekom Center Athens, the home of archrival Panathinaikos Aktor, with unwavering noise protecting the Reds from collapsing when Los Blancos threatened to pull away.
“It was very important that the people, even though they also had their anxiety and the pressure, didn’t stop. They didn’t seem to be silent when Real went up by double digits,” noted the Nicosia native. “For the fans, obviously, it was even more special because of the venue, because of how they experienced it, because their trips for so many years, and we hadn’t managed to win. We thank them very much for giving their time to come and support the team, to be with us everywhere.”
Club Legends
While Vezenkov did not collect any personal physical souvenirs, he was deeply moved by the sight of courtside icons like Vassilis Spanoulis, Giorgos Printezis, and Theo Papaloukas showing their emotional support.
“When I play in the game, I don’t look at who is what,” he said. “But they are the living history of Olympiacos. They have achieved so much, and I think everyone saw their reactions and the fact that Giorgos was moved, that they wanted it, because they still genuinely support the team and wanted to show that they are there, and we thank them for being there.”
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