Fenerbahce claimed their second EuroLeague title, defeating Monaco 81-70 in a thrilling 2025 Final on May 25 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, delivering a spectacle that showcased the best of European basketball. Under coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius, who became the fourth person to win the EuroLeague as both a player and coach, Fenerbahce battled through a hard-fought game marked by lead changes, defensive intensity, and clutch plays, with Marko Gudurić’s late three-pointer securing a 10-point lead with 65 seconds remaining (per Basketnews.com). The final, while not the anticipated Greek derby after Olympiacos beat Panathinaikos 97-93 for third place, lived up to fans’ expectations with its competitive spirit.
Gudurić led Fenerbahce with 19 points and 6 rebounds, earning a game-high index rating of 27, while his crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter sealed the win, supported by Nigel Hayes-Davis (key three in the third for a 54-51 lead) and Scottie Wilbekin’s timely scoring (per euroleaguebasketball.net). Monaco, coached by Vassilis Spanoulis, started strong with a 13-2 run, led by Mike James’ four early threes, but Fenerbahce’s defense tightened, allowing just four points in the final minutes of the first quarter, and they took a 35-33 halftime lead with contributions from Hayes-Davis and Tarik Biberović (per prior recap). Despite Monaco’s efforts, including a five-point run by Eli John Strazel and James to briefly regain the lead in the third (43-42), Fenerbahce’s resilience, driven by Gudurić and Wilbekin’s 11-point surge in the fourth, proved decisive.
The 2025 Final Four concluded with Fenerbahce’s triumph, while Olympiacos secured third place earlier that day, defeating Panathinaikos 97-93 in a lackluster Greek derby, as both teams rested key players like Kostas Sloukas and Nikola Milutinov ahead of the Greek League finals (per prior web results). Jasikevičius, who previously coached Barcelona to the 2021 final, outdueled his former Panathinaikos teammate Spanoulis, while Gudurić’s heroics echoed his past clutch performances, like his 2016 buzzer-beater for Crvena Zvezda (per euroleaguebasketball.net). As Fenerbahce celebrates, roster changes loom—Monaco will welcome Nikola Mirotić, and Olympiacos has signed Tyson Ward for 2025-26 (per Basketnews.com).
Posted on May 25, 2025
