Panathinaikos wins it with defence, Fener betrayed by Wilbekin: Ataman at the final

Ergin Ataman’s Panathinaikos is the first finalist of this EuroLeague 2024 Final Four. The Greek team capitalised on the initial 12-0 lead, resisted the Turkish comeback with their defence, and returned to a last act where they had been missing since the 2011 title.

Bitterness for Fenerbahce, who started badly but had several chances to overtake in the final third quarter. However, Wilbekin’s terrible performance stopped Jasikevicius’ attack.

Ataman gets his fourth final since 2019. 73-57 the final, 17-7 in the fourth quarter. For the Greeks 17+10 from Lessort, 14 from Nunn and 13 from Grant. In Fener 14 of Hayes-Davis, 10 of Guduric and Sestina, 2 for Wilbekin with 1/10 from the field.

STARTING FIVE

Panathinaikos: Jerian Grant, Kendrick Nunn, Ioannis Papapetrou, Dinos Mitoglou, Mathias Lessort

Fenerbahce: Nick Calathes, Scottie Wilbekin, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Dyshawn Pierre, Johnathan Motley

Game starting half an hour late due to riots outside the Berlin arena.

FIRST QUARTER

5 in a row by Grant, Panathinaikos 10-0 after 4′ of play, Jasikevicius puts in Sanli for Motley but there’s no escape. Mitoglou dunks the 12-0 that drives Berlin crazy, timeout terribly late by the Lithuanian coach at 5.48. Guduric comes in, but Wilbekin goes air-ball and finally at 4.47 Hayes-Davis finds the first Turkish basket (12-2). 22-13 at the end of the first quarter, 5 for Grant and Sanli.

SECOND QUARTER

Fener starts 7-0 and takes a 24-0 lead with 7:30 left. The Turkish defense raises its level, Nunn in transition breaks the Greek diet. Fener goes back to 34-29 with triples, then Lessort takes the lead with a basket and a stoppage. Guduric makes a steal at 1.35 for 36-31, Hayes-Davis makes the free throws for 36-33 at 1.02. The same wing makes it 38-36 at 10″, and that’s the end of the half. 8 for Nunn, 12 for Davis himself.

THIRD QUARTER

At 3.37 Davis’ triple and Dorsey’s basket make it 51-50. The Turks miss several chances to hook up, Kalaitzakis makes a meaningless triple in the final and it’s 56-50. 13 for Grant, 12+7 for Lessort, 14 by Hayes-Davis. Wilbekin 2 with 1/7 from the field.

FOURTH QUARTER

Lessort’s steal, a foul on Kalaitzakis, Pana goes back to defending, conceding shots at the end of the possession only to Calathes, and at 8.20 it’s 60-50. Sestina breaks the diet at 8′, but Fener is too confused in attack, and especially Wilbekin is not a factor. Guduric has to go alone, and then Pana’s defence recovers and Nunn starts in transition with a basket and foul to make it 65-52. It’s the key phase. Race decided, Calathes has a contact with Papagiannis sanctioned as unsportsmanlike, after 7′ it’s 14-5 the partial… 70-55 with 2′ to play is the maximum advantage.