FENERBAHCE ARE EUROLEAGUE CHAMPS
- Updated: May 21, 2017
Fenerbahce are the 2017 Euroleague champions, lifting the title for the first time.
In front of a partisan crowd in Istanbul, the home favourites became the first Turkish club to land the continental crown by defeating Olympiacos 80-64.
Ekipe Udoh, the MVP of the Final Four, had ten points and nine rebounds to set the tone and although he was a quieter presence than in the semi-final victory over Real Madrid, he remained a tower of strength.
Yet 13-of-25 three-point shooting really turned the screw. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Kalinic each scored 17 points with Fener pulling away in the third quarter as their Greek rivals folded.
Canadian forward Anthony Bennett, NBA number one pick turned outcast, earned a one-minute cameo as the rout was concluded to give coach Zeljko Obradovic his ninth title with a fifth different team.
“It was a great game. Hats off to Olympiacos,” said Udoh. “They had a great year, but tonight it was about us. We had ups and downs. We knew that if we were healthy that we could win. Winning the EuroLeague is wining the EuroLeague. It doesn’t matter who you play against. If my mom was playing on the other team I would have tried to go after her too.
“This MVP award is for all the big guys out there, who have to hustle. I’m here for my teammates. That’s what the man next to me (Obradovic) wants me to do. And if I don’t, you know what will happen.”
Earlier, deposed champions CSKA Moscow thrashed Real Madrid 94-70 in the consolation third place playoff with Great Britain centre Joel Freeland scoring a single point for the Russians.
Real’s Sergio Llull was named this season’s Euroleague MVP.
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