Fenerbahce beat Monaco to win second EuroLeague title
Fenerbahce secured their second EuroLeague crown with an 81-70 victory over Monaco in the final at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The Turkish side, who last won the title in the 2016-17 season, overcame an early deficit to outplay Monaco across the remaining quarters, sealing a historic win on European basketball's biggest stage.
American forward Nigel Hayes-Davis led the way for Fenerbahce with a standout performance, scoring 23 points and earning the Final Four MVP honours.
Monaco, ending a 32-year wait for a French team to reach the final, started strongly and led 20-18 after the first quarter. But Fenerbahce gradually pulled away, dominating the rest of the game despite a 19-point effort from Monaco's American forward Alpha Diallo.
Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius made history by becoming the first person in the modern EuroLeague era to win the trophy both as a player and a coach. The Lithuanian previously lifted the title as a player with Barcelona (2003), Maccabi Tel Aviv (2004, 2005), and Panathinaikos (2009).
As a coach, he had reached the final with Barcelona in 2021 but lost to Anadolu Efes. Last year, he guided Fenerbahce to the Final Four, where they fell short against Panathinaikos in the semi-finals.
Speaking after the game, Jasikevicius said: "A lifelong dream has come true. To do this with Fenerbahce and to be part of this moment is a joy. We are proud to bring the trophy back to Istanbul."
In a symbolic moment following the final whistle, team captain Melih Mahmutoglu handed the trophy to Serbian guard Marko Guduric, who lifted it high to celebrate the team's triumph.
Fenerbahce fans celebrated their team's triumph across Turkey, with major gatherings taking place in Istanbul and other cities.
Fenerbahce showed their defensive prowess by holding Monaco to just 38.1% shooting on two-pointers (16 of 42), forcing 14 turnovers, and limiting them to a team PIR (Performance Index Rating) of just 61, a testament to their lockdown performance.
Fenerbahce's defence shone brightest in crucial moments, particularly late in the second quarter when Monaco managed only one field goal in the final four minutes, a stretch that allowed the Turkish team to take control of the game for good.
American guard Wade Baldwin, in his sixth EuroLeague season with his fifth club, finally reached the Final Four and played a vital role in securing the title.
Baldwin was emotional after the game, saying: "We're all legends in the EuroLeague books. We're 2025 champions, this Fenerbahce team. It's our second star. All of us gave tremendous effort. It's just a great feeling to be in the history books for this league."
In the third-place game earlier on Sunday, Olympiacos Piraeus edged out Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 97-93 in a high-scoring Greek derby.
Alec Peters starred with 32 points, a new club Final Four record, and tied for the most in a Final Four game in the modern era.
Panathinaikos were led by Omer Yurtseven with 23 points, while Cedi Osman and Mathias Lessort added 14 and 12 respectively. Lorenzo Brown dished out 12 assists in the losing effort.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dwight Howard And Lance Stephenson Involved In Ugly Brawl During Their BIG3 Debuts
Dwight Howard And Lance Stephenson Involved In Ugly Brawl During Their BIG3 Debuts originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson made their debuts in the BIG3 on Saturday when the LA Riot took on Miami 305 in the season opener. It turned out to be an unforgettable night, albeit for the wrong reasons, as Howard and Stephenson brawled during the game. Howard and Stephenson were seen exchanging words, after which all hell broke loose. The former put the latter in a headlock, and the fight would eventually spill over into the stands. Here's another angle of the brawl. Howard and Stephenson were unsurprisingly ejected for this. It was not the way either would have imagined their debuts ending. Stephenson later stated on Instagram that Howard was out of control during the game. Advertisement "He had 10 fouls, pushing everybody, he was outta control." As for this game, Miami 305 beat LA Riot 50-44. Stephenson had 16 points, three rebounds, and one assist to help his team get the win, while Howard put up 10 points and seven rebounds. Interestingly, this altercation with Howard was the second one Stephenson was involved in on Saturday. Earlier in the game, Jordan Crawford had raised his hand and hit Stephenson's nose. That prompted him to throw a punch, and both men had to be separated. Stephenson was known for getting under people's skin during his 10-year NBA career. While he was a solid player with career averages of 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game, he made a name for himself with all of his antics. Advertisement Stephenson famously once taunted LeBron James, and it hasn't taken him too long to rile up his opponents in the BIG3. While Stephenson wasn't a big star in the NBA, Howard sure was. He won a title to go with three Defensive Player of the Year awards in 18 seasons. The big man also made eight All-Star, eight All-NBA, and five All-Defensive teams. Howard last suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22 and had been openly asking for another opportunity to play in the NBA. None came his way, though, and he'll have to make do with playing in the BIG3. Related: Dwight Howard Wouldn't Give LeBron James The Ball Late In The Game: "I'm Going To Give It To Kobe" This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Barcelona captain reaches agreement with Galatasaray despite initial doubts
In a surprising twist to Barcelona's summer transfer window, Turkish outlet Fanatik (h/t Mundo Deportivo) reports that club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen has reached an agreement with Galatasaray, signalling a potential end to his long and decorated tenure at Camp Nou. It is known that while the German goalkeeper still has a contract with Barcelona until 2028, he has grown increasingly unsettled due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his role and the club's long-term sporting project. Advertisement Despite Ter Stegen's recent public statements expressing his desire to remain at Barça, the situation appears to be shifting rapidly behind the scenes. Ter Stegen is ready to leave According to the outlet, Ter Stegen is ready for a new challenge, and Galatasaray are keen to pounce. The Turkish giants, fresh off a high-profile coup in the form of Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich, appear to be making a bold statement about their ambitions. Negotiations between Galatasaray and Barcelona have not yet reached the final stages, but the Turkish club's strategy is clear. Galatasaray want to sign Ter Stegen. (Photo by) Advertisement They want to secure Ter Stegen on a free transfer or, at the very least, a symbolic fee so they can redirect the bulk of their budget towards covering his significant wages. As such, it is said that they are ready to offer him €5 million net per season. While letting a player of Ter Stegen's calibre go without a substantial fee might seem unthinkable under normal circumstances, the Blaugrana could be tempted if it helps them clear his high salary from their books and avoid paying out the final three years of his contract. At 33, Ter Stegen still has plenty of years left at the top level, but with Joan Garcia already brought in for €25 million as a long-term successor, the writing could be on the wall. Advertisement Financial fair play remains a serious challenge for Barcelona, and reducing the wage bill is a clear priority this summer. Offloading one of their highest earners, especially if the goalkeeper himself is open to the move, would help balance the books and open the door for further reinforcements.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Report – Inter Milan Star's Agent In Istanbul For Talks With Galatasray
Report – Inter Milan Star's Agent In Istanbul For Talks With Galatasray The agent of Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is headed to Istanbul for transfer talks with Galatasaray. This according to Italian outlet FCInter1908. They report that the 31-year-old's representative is aiming to work out whether the move is a serious possibility. Advertisement By now, Galatasaray's interest in Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is certainly not a secret. The Turkish champions have made the former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen a top target this summer. FCIN1908 confirm that Galatasaray have not yet made an official offer to Inter. However, they have certainly sounded out the possibility. Agent Of Hakan Calhanoglu In Istanbul For Galatasaray Talks LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 11: Hakan Calhanoglu #20 of FC Internazionale Milano after disembarking at Los Angeles International Airport for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on June 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) According to FCIN1908, Calhanoglu's agent Gordon Stipic has travelled to Istanbul. Galatasasray will work to figure out whether a move for the Turkish international is a serious possibility. Therefore, the Istanbul giants will aim to sound out exactly how serious Hakan Calhanoglu would be about a move. Advertisement Meanwhile, Galatasaray will also get a sense from Stipic of how willing Inter would be to make a deal. Therefore, these talks could certainly play a decisive role in either paving the way for a transfer, or seeing the interest fizzle out. Calhanoglu's present contract with Inter runs out at the end of June 2027.
