Fenerbahçe captures the second EuroLeague title in its history. For coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, it’s the first championship of his career. Monaco falls 70-81. The hero of the night is Marko Guduric, who tallies 19 points and 6 rebounds. It’s the first major European trophy for Italbasket captain Nicolò Melli, joined by former Olimpia Milano player Devon Hall, who hits a key three-pointer.
For Monaco, Mike James scores 17, Alpha Diallo 19, and Strazel 13. On Fenerbahçe’s side, Nigel Hayes-Davis leads with 23 points and 9 rebounds, Guduric adds 19 and 6, and Hall scores 13. Melli logs 18 minutes on the court, contributing 5 points and 3 rebounds.
FIRST QUARTER
The game tips off in Abu Dhabi with the first basket from Guduric. Monaco responds energetically with a 5-0 run by Diallo and James. Hayes-Davis gets Fenerbahçe on the board with free throws, but Strazel hits a transition three for an 8-4 lead by the third minute. James connects from deep for 11-4, and Diallo scores again as Monaco tries to break away. Hayes-Davis counters with a personal 4-0 run to make it 13-8. Tensions flare between Biberovic and Strazel. A rain of three-pointers follows: James hits one, and Hall responds immediately, making it 16-11 with 4:20 left. Theis and Baldwin also score, with the latter driving to make it 18-13. Monaco calls a technical timeout. Fenerbahçe moves well on offense, Biberovic scores but misses the go-ahead three. McCollum fails to capitalize, while Blossomgame scores. Melli battles for an offensive board, draws a foul, and sinks two free throws with one second left. The quarter ends balanced at 20-18.
SECOND QUARTER
The second quarter starts slowly: it takes two minutes for Baldwin to score a three, quickly followed by Theis for 23-21 at the 13-minute mark. Diallo beats the 24-second clock for a +4 lead and hits another three to make it 32-23, prompting a Jasikevicius timeout. Guduric drives to score, but Diallo remains a puzzle for the Turkish defense. Melli responds with a three, restoring confidence, and Hayes-Davis scores from the post for 32-28. Spanoulis calls timeout. Scoring slows down, but Birch puts back a Baldwin miss for 32-30. Jaiteh makes one free throw, then Hall dunks in transition. Jaiteh commits an offensive foul with 10.4 seconds left. Baldwin misses the last shot, but Hall grabs the offensive rebound and completes a three-point play. Fenerbahçe leads 35-33 at halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
The second half opens with a Guduric three, followed by an offensive foul from Melli in a highly physical game. Theis shines: offensive rebound and a three-point play after a foul by Biberovic (36-38 at 7:29). Hall and James trade baskets, Hayes-Davis hits a fadeaway. Strazel drives successfully and draws a foul from Baldwin, completing the three-point play (41-42 at 6:01). James misfires a pass to Theis, who then charges into Melli. Melli misses a three. Timeout at 25’ with score stuck at 41-42. James sinks two free throws to retake the lead, immediately overturned by Guduric. Melli halts Diallo again, Baldwin extends the lead (43-46 at 3:57). James forces a three, then fouls to stop a Turkish fast break. Baldwin scores from mid-range, Blossomgame responds with a three (46-48 at 3:13). Diallo turns it over as the shot clock expires in an isolation-heavy phase. At 1:44, Diallo redeems himself with a three, Guduric answers in kind. Monaco loses possession, but Baldwin misses, and Diallo punishes the defense for a 51-all tie. Hayes-Davis closes the quarter with a three after two offensive rebounds. Spanoulis challenges the play, but no call is made. Fenerbahçe leads 54-51.
FOURTH QUARTER
Fenerbahçe takes control early in the final quarter, going up by 11 with 7 minutes left. James and Theis cut the deficit to 8. McCollum commits an offensive foul, Melli reaches four personal fouls and receives a technical. Monaco turns it over twice, Guduric makes it 55-65, Diallo scores inside, but Hall hits a three to restore the +11 margin. Chaos ensues: Baldwin is ejected after a second technical. Monaco goes to the line after a Strazel shot, but James misses two crucial threes. It’s 61-68 with 2:15 left after Diallo fouls out. Strazel hits a three at 1:58, but Guduric is flawless from the line. Theis misses inside, Guduric seals the win with another three.
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