Turkish club Fenerbahce thwarted reigning Euroleague basketball champions Panathinaikos BC’s attempt for a repeat after eliminating the Greek team in the first semi-final (82-76) of Europe’s top club competition in a nail-biting game on Friday evening at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The Greens trailed for most of the first half to a sharpshooting Fenerbahce but managed to close the gap to five points before the main break, giving hope for a comeback in the second half. The Turkish team, however, managed to stem Pana’s resurgence, playing more organized basketball than the Greens, who primarily relied on individual outbursts from Euroleague regular season MVP Kendrick Nunn, gradually extending their lead in the third quarter to clinch a spot in Sunday’s final.
Cedi Osman, with 22 points, was the Greek champion’s top scorer, followed by Kendrick Nunn with 19 points. The game marked the return of Pana’s starting center last season, Mathias Lessort, who stepped onto the floor after 150 days due to a serious injury amid a rapturous reception from the Greeks in the stands.
