The reigning champion has earned this Thursday the right to defend the title won last year in Cologne. Anadolu Efes became the first runner-up in the EuroLeague Final Four after defeating Olympiacos in a duel that was decided at the buzzer. It's the third final for Ataman's team, that's nothing.
Vasilije Micic was a prophet in his land. The Serbian was enlarged in Belgrade to score a triple that kissed the net when the horn sounded in a Stark Arena full of Greeks, who were left speechless after a new feat by what is surely the best player in Europe and whom the NBA awaits.
Bartzokas's Olympiacos, supported by more than 10,000 tireless throats, made the cut and despite making the rubber from the third quarter resisted until the end against an Efes that seemed more earthy than usual with a physically diminished but very inspired Larkin, as almost always.
The Turks came to lead 48-59 in the third act but they were not as fine as it might seem and the Greek team believed in their chances until the end. In fact, Hassan Martin evened the score with 19.5 seconds left in the duel.
The semifinal was at the expense of the last play and despite having made several bad decisions in the last two minutes of the game, Ataman did not hesitate and put the ball in the hands of Vasilije Micic, who worked his magic and put his Efes in the end of saturday.
74 - Olympiacos (21 22 20 11): Walkup (5), Dorsey (11), Papanikolau (10), Vezenkov (5) y Fall (7) -cinco initial-, Sloukas (11), Martin (11), Printezis (2) and Mckissic (12).
77 - Anadolu Efes (18 24 24 11): Larkin (21), Micic (15), Moermann (0), Anderson (0) and Pleiss (8) -starting team-, Bryant (16), Singleton (5), Dunston (12) and Beaubois (0).
Referees: Borys Ryzhyk, Olegs Latisevs and Gytis Vilius. Singleton and Dunston eliminated for fouls, according to Anadolu Efes-
Incidents: First semifinal of the 2021-2022 Euroleague final four played at the Stark Arena in Belgrade before some 15,500 spectators, the vast majority of whom are Greek fans.
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