Basketball fans were treated to a spectacular EuroLeague final as Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe and the resilient AS Monaco went head-to-head in a gripping showdown, on Sunday evening, in Abu Dhabi. In the end, it was Fenerbahçe who emerged victorious, clinching the title with a commanding 81–70 win.
Monaco got off to a strong start, taking an early lead and going up by eight points after a basket by Mike James (16–8). However, Fenerbahçe responded swiftly, closing the gap and finishing the first quarter just two points behind, with Monaco ahead 20–18.
The momentum swung early in the second quarter when Baldwin’s three-pointer put Fenerbahçe ahead, but Monaco quickly answered with an 8–0 run. Led by coach Vassilis Spanoulis, the Monegasques stretched the lead to nine through Alpha Diallo. Still, Fenerbahçe surged back with a 12–1 run to take a slim 35–33 lead into halftime.
The battle remained tight after the break, with neither side giving an inch. Monaco briefly went ahead 43–42 via Mike James’s free throws, but Fenerbahçe closed the third quarter strong, reclaiming a 54–51 lead thanks to crucial threes from Gudurić and Hayes-Davis.
In the fourth, Fenerbahçe found another gear. With Hall, Baldwin, Hayes-Davis, and Gudurić stepping up, they built an 11-point lead with just over three minutes to go. Monaco cut it to five through Strazel’s quick burst, but Gudurić’s clutch three-pointer ended the comeback and secured the EuroLeague crown.
