Ολυμπιακός: Ντύνεται «Σεΐχης» στο Άμπου Ντάμπι μετά την πρόκριση στο Final Four της Euroleague

Olympiacos: Vezenkov Receives Ovation from Fans – “Sasha, Hero, Olympiacos”, “MVP” – VIDEO

Sasha Vezenkov was met with overwhelming admiration from Olympiacos fans as he exited the Movistar Arena following the team’s thrilling 84-86 victory over Real Madrid, which secured their spot in the Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

The Olympiacos squad achieved a remarkable win in Madrid, asserting their control against the “Royal” team and marking their fourth consecutive appearance in the Euroleague Final Four, underscoring their consistent high-level performance in recent years.

The Reds are now awaiting to discover their semifinal opponent, which will be determined between Monaco and Barcelona.

Vezenkov played a pivotal role, sinking a crucial three-pointer with just 2:02 remaining in the game, providing essential breathing room for Olympiacos during the final stages.

The Bulgarian forward’s stat line included 10 points, with 2/5 on two-pointers, 1/5 on three-pointers, and a perfect 3/3 from the free-throw line, along with 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal in 27:30 minutes of action.

As he left the court, Olympiacos supporters welcomed him with chants of “Sasha, Hero, Olympiacos” and “MVP,” expressing their deep appreciation and admiration for him.

“Sasha, Hero, Olympiacos” and “MVP”

Complete adulation for Sasha from Olympiacos fans!

Mission in Madrid: Dimitris Oikonomou#OlympiacosBC pic.twitter.com/0xAqg4XfVm

— gazzetta.gr (@gazzetta_gr) May 1, 2025

Olympiacos: EOK Congratulates Piraeus Team on Final Four Qualification in Abu Dhabi

Greece now hopes for double representation in the EuroLeague Final Four, taking place for the first time in Abu Dhabi, with Olympiacos being the first of two Greek teams to secure a spot.

Georgios Bartzokas’ team achieved an impressive victory in Madrid against Real, solidifying their place among the top four clubs in the competition. The triumph did not go unnoticed by the Hellenic Basketball Federation, which promptly praised the team in a social media post.

“Congratulations to Olympiacos for qualifying for the Euroleague Final Four. A significant achievement for Greek sports and basketball,” read the EOK’s statement.

With Olympiacos’ qualification, all eyes now turn to Panathinaikos, who are also vying for a place in the Final Four, aiming for two Greek teams to reach the zenith of European basketball.

Congratulations to Olympiacos for qualifying for the Final Four of @EuroLeague!@Olympiacos_BC 👏#OlympiacosBC #Euroleague#F4GLORY#HellenicBasketballFederation 🏀🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/GF027lvdOF

— Hellenic Basketball (@HellenicBF) May 1, 2025

Shirts Saying “Piraeus in Abu Dhabi” for the Final Four

Immediately after the match, the atmosphere in Olympiacos’ locker room was celebratory. The players donned specially designed shirts dedicated to the Final Four, emblazoned with the message: “Piraeus in Abu Dhabi,” clearly signaling their intent to participate in the grand celebration of European basketball.

Onward, Olympiacos shifts their focus to their semifinal opponent, awaiting the outcome of the Monaco-Barca matchup. The countdown to the Final Four in Abu Dhabi has begun, with Bartzokas’ team declaring their readiness to vie for yet another pinnacle in their history.

Potential Opponents in the Final Four

Olympiacos secured its place in the Euroleague Final Four with a stunning performance in Madrid, defeating Real and clinching the series 3-1. With this victory, Bartzokas’ team celebrates entering the final four of the competition, focusing now on the semifinal in Abu Dhabi.

The next opponent for the Reds will be determined by the Monaco-Barcelona series, with the Monte Carlo team, led by Vassilis Spanoulis, currently holding a 2-1 advantage. The former captain of Olympiacos is close to a historic playoff entry as a coach, needing one more win to secure Monaco’s spot in the Final Four and potentially face his former team.

Game 4 of this matchup is scheduled for today, Friday, May 2 at 20:30 in Barcelona. For Barcelona to reach Abu Dhabi, they must achieve a series of three consecutive victories. They already secured the first game, and must now defend their home court in Game 4, and, if successful, must complete the comeback with a win in Monaco.

The 14 “Red and White” Final Four Appearances

Georgios Bartzokas’s team triumphed with an 86-84 victory over Real Madrid in Game 4 of the playoff series, concluding the matchup with a 3-1 victory and securing their qualification without needing a fifth game at the SEF.

Thus, the Reds have reached the Euroleague Final Four for the fourth consecutive time and the 14th overall.

Here are the 14 “Red and White” Final Four Appearances:

Statements from Key Players

Georgios Bartzokas expressed his excitement over Olympiacos’s qualification for the Euroleague Final Four, emphasizing his players’ contributions, their determination, and the pressure they faced against Real Madrid. The coach of the Reds heaped praise on Kostas Papanikolaou and Sasha Vezenkov, highlighting the importance of the team’s collective effort that propelled them to the final stage.

During the post-game press conference, the Greek coach thanked the presidents, Panagiotis and Georgios Angelopoulos, the coaching staff, the players, and the Olympiacos supporters who backed the team throughout Europe and in Piraeus.

Here are Bartzokas’s comments:

“It was a game filled with intensity and toughness, exactly as we anticipated. Real possesses vast experience and pride. I had mentioned this before: they are a team with talent and history—as coached by Zeljko Obradovic—favorites for the Euroleague. I fully agree with that. For us, the most critical aspect was to control our emotions.”

Despite securing the top position in the regular season, Olympiacos faced a possibly the most dangerous opponent in the first round of the playoffs. Bartzokas highlighted the pressure management and the economic significance of the game.

“The pressure was enormous because we faced a team with the know-how to go all the way. We had a 15-point lead in the final quarter, but the game came down to the last shot. In the end, it all went awry—and I’m glad we didn’t pay for it.”

The experienced coach credited the management, the players, the fans, and his staff.

“I want to congratulate the organization on the terrific roster we had this year, and our fans who supported us across Europe and, of course, in Piraeus, as well as our players and coaching staff. Our lives have revolved around Olympiacos for months.”

Bartzokas characterized Olympiacos’s roster as “deep”, emphasizing that everyone understood and executed their roles with consistency.

“It was a purely collective effort. But you always need the talent of Sasha Vezenkov. The crucial shot he made was tremendous. However, I must commend everyone. They played with selflessness, both defensively and offensively. And that’s something I deeply appreciate.”

Regarding Kostas Papanikolaou, the Greek coach spoke enthusiastically: “Tremendous performance. Except for the last shot, all his attempts were a result of good decisions after ball circulation. He is the leader of the team, and in the fourth quarter, he stepped up. He helped us continue to believe in ourselves.”

On Sasha Vezenkov, Bartzokas remarked: “He didn’t start the game well and was disappointed. The pressure after returning from the NBA is immense. Sometimes you need a little bench time to understand how the game flows. Peters did an excellent job covering during that time. However, Sasha bounced back strong in the second half and brought energy.”

Sasha Vezenkov: “We Haven’t Achieved Anything Yet, Let’s Go Win It”

Sasha Vezenkov remained humble following Olympiacos’s remarkable qualification for the Euroleague Final Four, set to take place this year in Abu Dhabi. Despite the stunning victory in Madrid and the 3-1 series win against Real, the Bulgarian forward opted for moderation, emphasizing that the team still has unfinished business.

Speaking to NOVA, Vezenkov first addressed his pivotal three-pointer in the fourth quarter, stating: “This is basketball. The previous situation was under much better conditions. This is basketball, which is why people love it, and why we play. Since we won, everything is good,” reflecting his team spirit and focus on the goal.

He then spoke about the team’s journey and what lies ahead, stating: “Cautiously happy. The first goal was to gain the advantage, then to qualify for the Final Four, and now to win it. I’m cautiously happy. We haven’t achieved anything yet. Let’s go win it.”

Kostas Papanikolaou: “We Don’t Forget What This Year Means for the Club, Two More Steps”

Olympiacos celebrated a massive qualification for the Euroleague Final Four, beating Real Madrid 84-86 in Spain, and Kostas Papanikolaou expressed his emotions regarding the team’s achievement this year.

The Reds’ captain, speaking to NOVA just minutes after Game 5, underscored the importance of the current season for the Piraeus club, describing the year as historic.

“We are proud. We do not forget what this year means for the club. This is what we had to do. Now we must go there and take two more steps to reach the title,” Papanikolaou stated, making it clear that their goal is to claim the top spot.

The Olympiacos leader also highlighted the dynamism of the tournament format, noting: “It has the beauty that the eighth place can reach the Final Four. This is the system every season.”

He further discussed the internal dynamics of the team and how players beyond the usual stars contribute to their success:

“In the locker room, there are kids ready to step up, beyond Vezenkov and Fournier, who are our pillars. We have two more steps.”

Lastly, he emphasized what he believes gives this year’s Olympiacos a unique character:

“I think the depth we have as a team and our ability to cover every gap stand out. To attack correctly, to defend correctly.”