It won't be at one of the iconic basketball venues, but times are changing, and the history of European basketball will be written on the Asian continent.
It's time for the Euroleague Final Four - the four best teams from the Old Continent will fight for the Euroleague trophy tomorrow (Friday) and on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
The teams that "survived" the long league season and the hell of the playoffs promise a spectacle in the spectacular "Itihad Arena" - European champion Panathinaikos will play a big derby against Fenerbahçe (17 p.m.), while the other semi-final pair consists of Olympiacos and Monaco (20 p.m.).
An Athens final between fierce rivals or do clubs from Turkey and the principality have different plans?
"I am sure that my team is ready to fight, that it is ready to win and I am sure that we will win the Euroleague title again, like last year," said Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos coach.
Ataman: I'm not important; Jasikevicius: Better than in Berlin
For the Turkish expert, it will be his fifth Final Four appearance after triumphing three times in the previous four editions - twice with Efes and last year with the Athenian giants.
"I don't care too much about just winning or winning the title again. We are all here to defend the cup together," Ataman added.
The Panathinaikos-Fenerbahçe duel will be a rematch of last year's semi-final in Berlin and a chance for Šarūnas Jasikevičius to strike back at Ataman.
"I hope that many things will be different than in Berlin. First of all, I hope that we will start the game on time. Basically, I want us to simplify things and play a better game," said the legendary Lithuanian basketball player and coach of the Turkish club.
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The second semi-final will see the three-time European champion meet a team that has only made it to the Final Four once in the Euroleague. The clash between Olympiacos and Monaco will be special for Vasilis Spanoulis, as the current coach of the "Princes" is a playing legend of the team from Piraeus.
"My feelings and love for this club are unquestionable and eternal, but during those 40 minutes, no matter how difficult it is - we will be rivals. It will be harder for my children, who should be cheering for Olympiacos or Monaco. However, I think they will be with their dad," emphasized the man who conquered Europe twice in the red and white jersey.
The famous "seven" was part of the team when Olympiacos last won the Euroleague (2013). Since then, the club from Piraeus has always been close, but never at the top - in the previous three seasons, it reached the top four, but lacked the strength to "grab" the trophy.
"It's truly incredible to reach the Final Four with Olympiacos four years in a row. However, sometimes that's not enough. The goal is to win the trophy - I believe we'll have more luck this year," stressed Giorgos Barcokas, coach of the "red and whites".
Panathinaikos on top of Europe for the eighth time, Olympiacos' fourth title, Fenerbahce's second, or history for Monaco - it's time for decisive battles.
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