Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul secured a spot in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game with an 82-76 victory over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the opening semifinal on May 23, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, leading for over 38 minutes. Fenerbahce jumped to a 22-14 first-quarter lead with a 10-0 run sparked by Devon Hall, maintained a 38-33 halftime edge, and fended off a third-quarter comeback when Panathinaikos closed to 38-37, before pulling away in the fourth with key triples from Hall and Tarik Biberovic. This win marks Fenerbahce’s sixth Final Four appearance since 2015, a testament to their consistency under coaches like Zeljko Obradovic.
Devon Hall led Fenerbahce with 18 points, including four three-pointers, earning MVP honors for the game, while Biberovic added 15 points, Errick McCollum scored 13, and Wade Baldwin contributed 10. Panathinaikos’ Cedi Osman paced his team with 22 points, Kendrick Nunn added 19 before fouling out in the fourth, and Jerian Grant scored 15, but the defending champions couldn’t overcome Fenerbahce’s depth, despite Osman’s late three-point flurry. Fenerbahce’s balanced attack—featuring Nicolo Melli’s 9 points and timely dunks—and their ability to answer every Panathinaikos run, like McCollum’s 6 straight points in the third, showcased their resilience, echoing their 2017 EuroLeague title run.
