The basketball world witnessed a triumphant moment in Athens as Olympiacos secured the EuroLeague championship with a hard-fought 92-85 victory over Real Madrid. The decisive clash took place at the OAKA Indoor Hall, locally known as the Peace and Friendship Stadium, where the home crowd provided an electric atmosphere throughout the contest.

Breaking the Final Four Curse

Olympiacos head coach Georgios Bartzokas expressed immense joy during the post-match press conference. The Greek tactician highlighted the collective effort of his roster, emphasizing that the players were the true heroes of the night. Bartzokas specifically noted that the team had successfully broken the so-called "curse" that often plagues regular-season leaders who fail to lift the trophy in the Final Four tournament.

"I feel very good and happy," Bartzokas stated. "The players are the heroes of this job. We broke the curse of the team that finishes first in the regular season but cannot win the championship. We played very good basketball this season. I congratulate all my players and the fans. My players fully deserved this cup."

The French wing Evan Fournier, who was awarded the Final Four MVP title, echoed his coach's sentiments. Fournier pointed to the team's defensive cohesion as the key factor in their success. "We stayed connected to each other," Fournier explained. "Our good work on defense gave us strength, and we managed to become champions."

Scariolo Praises the Champion

On the losing side, Real Madrid head coach Sergio Scariolo offered a gracious assessment of the match. The Italian coach acknowledged that while his team competed well, minor details ultimately decided the outcome. Scariolo highlighted the continuity and stability of the Olympiacos project, noting that they have worked with the same head coach for five years and maintained a core group of players.

"They are a very good team," Scariolo remarked. "They had the home advantage. There was a truly fantastic atmosphere, and they used that opportunity well. It is not easy for a team plagued by injuries like ours. They created huge pressure. My team showed tremendous effort. We played very good basketball and put up a big fight. Getting only 16 rebounds is a huge difference. The result of the match was determined by small details."

The victory marks a significant milestone for the Piraeus-based club, reinforcing their status as one of Europe's elite basketball organizations. The blend of experienced leadership and tactical discipline proved decisive against a resilient Madrid side.