Sergio Scariolo: “Nobody believed we would win and play in the final”

Real Madrid advanced to the EuroLeague final after beating Valencia Basket 105-90 in the second semifinal of the 2026 Final Four in Athens. After the game, Sergio Scariolo praised his players for reaching a stage few believed they could reach.

“It is a huge honor to have reached the final. It is a moment we have to enjoy for a few hours. We deserve a lot of credit, especially after Garuba’s injury,” the Real Madrid coach said.

Scariolo also pointed to the team’s improvement after halftime: “In the second half, we defended better and grabbed more rebounds. I think it is a fair win.” On Usman Garuba’s injury, he added: “Garuba’s situation does not look good, but I don’t know anything yet.”

Real Madrid will now need to recover before the final against Olympiacos: “The players have to rest. If we have to play without Usman, it is a completely new scenario. Nobody believed we would win and play in the final, and here we are.”