Victory for Greece in Berlin - Basketball icon delivers a surprising twist during the climax.
Panathinaikos Athens triumphs in the EuroLeague Final Four's last game in Berlin, defeating defending champions Real Madrid with a score of 95-77. This victory marks their first European title in thirteen years.
The occasion brought together an array of significant figures, including NBA legend Scottie Pippen, who attended both the semi-finals on Friday and the DFB Cup final between Leverkusen and Lautern (1:0) on Saturday, and Real president Florentino Perez, both of whom were sighted in the VIP area.
Pippen sportingly swapped his unkempt hairstyle for small ponytails at the final game.
German national team captain Dennis Schröder arrived somewhat late and only settled into his seat after about four minutes into the match.
Unmissable! Before the game's commencement, the EuroLeague anthem could barely be heard as it was drowned out by the roars of the Greek fans singing their battle cry. Magentasport expert Alex Vogel commended the enthusiasm of the new Panathinaikos players: "This is brutal! There's more green in the hall than on Friday."
Real star Facundo Campazzo experienced a harrowing moment during the first quarter when he stumbled and collided with the side-standing chairs with his head, leaving him temporarily stunned. By the end of the first quarter, Real led by twelve points. However, Panathinaikos staged a remarkable comeback and held a slim advantage at halftime, 54-49.
An incredible half!--commentator Benni Zander exclaimed.
The crowd became frenzied when Panathinaikos took the lead for the first time at 58:56. The O2 Arena was shaken with excitement as fans tossed full drinks bottles through the air and cheered.
With a score of 64-61 in favor of Panathinaikos, the final quarter began. Pippen couldn't help but be amused by the boisterous atmosphere.
The match's closing phase was an intense battle, with Real refusing to back down. With two minutes left (86:76 in favor of Panathinaikos), police and stewards prepared to enter the hall for the prize ceremony. Pippen swiftly exited the venue after the game.
In a heartfelt TV interview after the game, Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman was visibly emotional and dedicated the victory to his late father, who had passed away a month prior.
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Source: symclub.org