2014-15Final FourCHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Real Madrid 78
Olympiacos Piraeus 59
May 17, 2015 CET: 20:00
Local time: 20:00 BARCLAYCARD CENTER

Real Madrid is Euroleague champion for record ninth time!

After a two-decade break, Real Madrid is once again the king of Europe! Madrid defeated Olympiacos Piraeus 78-59 the 2015 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four Championship Game on Sunday night at Barclaycard Center in the Spanish capital to become continental champion for a record ninth time. It also marked a record 15th European title for the club. Madrid’s last Euroleague title came in 1995 when it defeated Olympiacos in Zaragoza, Spain. Captain Felipe Reyes received the Euroleague trophy from the King of Spain, Felipe VI, and raised it in celebration. Madrid took charge in the second quarter and led 35-28 at halftime. Olympiacos used a 0-12 third-quarter run to take a 40-41 lead, but Jaycee Carroll took over with 11 straight points and Los Blancos never looked back. Madrid outscored Olympiacos 38-18 over the final 14 minutes to claim the historic victory. Carroll led the winners with 16 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting. Final Four MVP Andres Nocioni contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds, Sergio Llull also scored 12 and Sergio Rodriguez added 11. Matt Lojeski paced the Olympiacos attack with 17 points, Georgios Printezis netted 11 and Kostas Sloukas and Othello Hunter had 10 each. Vassilis Spanoulis was held to just 3 points.

First quarter: Lojeski lifts Olympiacos

It took a minute before Llull dumped a pass inside to Reyes for the game’s first points. After forcing the Reds into a 24-second violation, Carroll’s layup made it 4-0. Spanoulis split free throws to get Olympiacos going. Rudy Fernandez ignited the crowd with a put-back slam, however Bryant Dunston responded with a three-point play. Then Lojeski’s floater tied the game at 6-6. Dunston rejected Reyes to start a break that Lojeski finished for Los Blancos’ first lead, but Llull hit back seconds later with a three-pointer. After Printezis scored on the blocks, Carroll and Lojeski traded threes, which put 12-13 on the scoreboard. After a TV timeout, Lojeski nailed a three from the corner, which gave him 10 points in just six minutes. Othello Hunter split free throws to put the Reds up 12-17. Nocioni rejected Hunter from behind on the break to get the Madrid fans singing. Llull’s second three-pointer narrowed the gap to 2, but Brent Petway left Olympiacos up 15-19.

Second quarter: Maciulis moves Madrid ahead

Oliver Lafeyette raced into the lane and dished to Hunter for a thunder dunk. Jonas Maciulis used a spin move on the baseline to score and Nocioni stripped Lafayette and scored. Lafayette made amends with a steal and drawing a foul while shooting a three-pointer, but only made 1 of the resulting 3 shots. Maciulis countered with a shot from behind the arc to even the score at 22-22. After a Spanoulis layup, Petway was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Nocioni, who made the resulting foul shots. Nocioni went up for block on Dunston but got the body as well and was called for a foul. Dunston split free throws to put the Reds back ahead 24-25. Spanoulis missed 3 free throws – he was awarded an extra for a line violation. Then Maciulis hit a three and Spanoulis shot an airball. Hunter split free throws and Nocioni made 2 for a 4-point Madrid edge. Rudy picked off a Vangelis Mantzaris pass and took it in for a layup and a 32-26 advantage. The tide started to turn after a Hunter put-back and an offensive foul on Reyes. But a K.C. Rivers three-pointer gave Madrid its largest lead of the half at the break, 35-28.

Third quarter: After Olympiacos rally, Carroll shines for Madrid

After an action-packed 100 seconds, Llull scored the first basket of the second half in transition. The Reds’ free throw woes continued as Mantzaris made just 1 of 2. Rudy’s triple gave Madrid its first double-digit lead at 40-29. Mantzaris led a fastbreak that Lojeski finished with a reverse layup and Printezis got deep in the lane for a layup, resulting in a 40-33 score and a Madrid timeout. Reyes took a seat with his fourth foul and the Reds continued to roll. Back-to-back threes by Sloukas and Lojeski were followed by a Printezis drive through Ayon that capped a 0-12 charge and gave Olympiacos its first lead of the second half, 40-41. Carroll ended the Madrid drought with a triple only to see Sloukas got for a layup-and-foul. Carroll stayed hot with a tough three over Hunter with the 24-second clock winding down for a 46-43 advantage. Carroll’s third straight three even impressed the king. He added a layup for his 10th and 11th points of the quarter and a 7-point lead. After a scramble for a loose ball, Rudy got a hold of it and threw ahead to a breaking Rodriguez for an easy layup. A pair of Sloukas free throws ended the quarter at 53-46.

Fourth quarter: Nocioni and Rodriguez seal the outcome

A Nocioni triple made it a 10-point game. Lojeski fed Hunter for a two-handed jam. Hunter then posterized Marcus Slaughter. Rodriguez drove for a layup to keep the momentum with Madrid. Slaughter scored in the paint and Lojeski’s basket was matched by Rivers. It was 62-55 after a Sloukas three. Nocioni brought the Madrid fans to their feet with a triple that restored a 10-point difference with 3:45 remaining. Llull added to the lead with 2 free throws. A magnificent Nocioni rejection of Sloukas and Ayon’s free throws inflated the margin to 14. Then Lafayette missed 2 free throws and Llull went into the paint for a layup in traffic that all but sealed the outcome at 71-55 with two minutes to go. Printezis went to work with a baseline floater and free throws, but Rodriguez made foul shots too. Madrid handled Olympiacos’s pressure and an Ayon offensive rebound gave his team more time. A high-arcing Rodriguez layup started the celebrations. Rodriguez added another triple as Madrid finished off a historic victory.

Real Madrid champ Euroleague 2014-15 - Final Four Madrid 2015 - EB14
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Frankie Sachs, Euroleague.net – Madrid
Referees: PUKL,SASA; RYZHYK, BORYS; BELOSEVIC, ILIJA
Attendance: 12987
By Quarter1234
Real Madrid15201825
Olympiacos Piraeus1991813
End of Quarter1234
Real Madrid15355378
Olympiacos Piraeus19284659
Real Madrid
  Rebounds Blocks Fouls
# Player Min Pts 2FG 3FG FT O D T As St To Fv Ag Cm Rv PIR
4 RIVERS, KC 18:27 5 1/1 1/3     4 4     2     2   3
5 FERNANDEZ, RUDY 24:52 7 2/3 1/6   1 3 4 2 2 2     2 2 7
6 NOCIONI, ANDRES 22:26 12 1/3 2/3 4/4 1 6 7 2 1 2 2   4 3 18
7 CAMPAZZO, FACUNDO DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 MACIULIS, JONAS 15:40 9 1/2 2/2 1/2 1 3 4     1     1 1 10
9 REYES, FELIPE 15:45 2 1/4     1   1 1   1   1 4 3 -2
13 RODRIGUEZ, SERGIO 24:11 11 3/7 1/5 2/3   3 3 4 1 1     2 3 10
14 AYON, GUSTAVO 14:47 2 0/3   2/2 3 2 5 1   3     2 1 1
20 CARROLL, JAYCEE 20:42 16 2/2 4/5     3 3   1 1     1 1 18
23 LLULL, SERGIO 21:37 12 2/3 2/6 2/2       4   1     4 2 8
30 BOUROUSIS, IOANNIS 5:04           1 1   1       2 1 1
44 SLAUGHTER, MARCUS 16:29 2 1/3     2 2 4 2   1     4 2 3
Team           3 1 4     1         3
Totals 200:00 78 14/31 13/30 11/13 12 28 40 16 6 16 2 1 28 19 80
        45.2% 43.3% 84.6%
Head coach: LASO, PABLO
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
Olympiacos Piraeus
  Rebounds Blocks Fouls
# Player Min Pts 2FG 3FG FT O D T As St To Fv Ag Cm Rv PIR
4 PETWAY, BRENT 16:27 2 1/1       2 2 1         3 1 3
5 HUNTER, OTHELLO 16:27 10 4/8   2/4 1 6 7     1   1 3 2 8
6 DUNSTON, BRYANT 16:57 4 1/2   2/3   1 1 2 1   1   2 3 8
7 SPANOULIS, VASSILIS 31:06 3 1/1 0/4 1/4       3   4     3 6 -2
9 PAPAPETROU, IOANNIS 1:52                 1           1
10 SLOUKAS, KOSTAS 22:03 10 1/2 2/3 2/4   2 2 2 1     1 4 5 11
15 PRINTEZIS, GEORGIOS 26:23 11 4/6 0/2 3/4 2   2 3   1     1 2 11
16 AGRAVANIS, DIMITRIS 1:05         1   1               1
17 MANTZARIS, VANGELIS 20:18 1   0/4 1/2   3 3 1 2 1     2 1  
20 LAFAYETTE, OLIVER 12:04 1   0/3 1/5   1 1 2 1 1     1 4  
21 DARDEN, TREMMELL 5:08   0/1 0/1     1 1               -1
24 LOJESKI, MATT 30:10 17 4/4 3/6     2 2 1 2 1     1 2 19
Team           1 2 3     3     1   -1
Totals 200:00 59 16/25 5/23 12/26 5 20 25 15 8 12 1 2 21 26 58
        64% 21.7% 46.2%
Head coach: SFAIROPOULOS, IOANNIS

Head Coaches

LASO, PABLO
Real Madrid

“It’s hard to find words now. I am really very, very happy. First for my players. I think they did a great job during the year, coming back from all the tough moments - injuries, losses. But we were able to stay together. That’s what I asked in every game, to stay together. And you need that when you have stars. And that’s what they are. I have 13 stars. I tried to make a team. All of this is very nice. We are European champions and I feel very proud of my players."

“I always insist on the team. And I consider myself just another member of the team. Personally I am very happy for having won this title, because this really gives you recognition. But it’s equally as important as the recognition of my daily work."

“I will not change because I am a European champion. I tried to convey that to my players and everybody on the team. Everyone is as important as Andres Nocioni. I feel very happy for them because they worked very hard. I feel very happy for the club, because I know how demanding Real Madrid is."

“A few weeks ago I was having dinner with my family and my son said he didn’t think we would stay in Madrid for so many years. My own son said that."

“Do I feel satisfied? No. I am happy, calm. But if we lose the game on Wednesday I will be very mad. That’s the way I am."

“I don’t have the magic potion because [Spanoulis] scored only 3 points. The guys did a great job that he didn’t get in a rhythm on offense. We used different players on him so he couldn’t get used to anyone. It was team defense. We did a great job on him.”

SFAIROPOULOS, IOANNIS
Olympiacos Piraeus

“I would like to congratulate Real Madrid because they won the title after so many years. They played really good tonight. As they played tonight, they deserved to win. From the other side we tried to do our best in difficult circumstances because Madrid have good players at every position and they are playing on their home court and in front of their home fans."

“We kept the tempo on our side. And the score is closer to 70-60. If the home team scores 70 points and you have a good offensive day, then you can be in a good position. But offensively we were not good. It was obvious that we had a lack of energy for the game. And in the semifinal we had 16 offensive rebounds and today only 5. The energy was not with us."

“It was very important in the second and third periods that Madrid scored some tough shots. Carroll’s shots changed the momentum of the game. It was really difficult after that."

“For us we are disappointed. But deep inside us we are very proud to play another final despite all the difficulties. We fought and we went back to the Final Four."

“I want to thank all of our fans that supported us here. Their voice was with us for the two games. We thank them for the big support that they gave us. We will promise them that we will do our best, that we will have more big games and finals and titles to make them happy.”

Players

REYES, FELIPE
Real Madrid
"I have been waiting for this title for a long time. We were really close to lifting the trophy in the last two years and it is a great, really deserved reward for all the work that we did - and we won it at home! We couldn't ask for more! We managed to play as a team, play defense as a team and be a team."
CARROLL, JAYCEE
Real Madrid
"It was an incredible game, and it was incredible to get a hot stretch that I got in the third quarter of a game like this. But more than anything, I am so happy for the win. I know how it feels not to win. You know club has been waiting for this for bunch of years, so we are so excited and so happy."
NOCIONI, ANDRES
Real Madrid

“We played really hard. I think we did not play pretty, but we played tough on defense. We tried to stay calm when Olympiacos made the run. We didn’t play how we wanted to play, but we played tough. They are a great, great team. It was a real battle but somebody had to win. And being the MVP of the Final Four is unbelievable."

“This is why I wanted to join a team with a chance to win the Euroleague. I had to perform and do my best and have a great effort. But I did that. I am proud and satisfied with my performance. I played my best.”

"I may be the MVP, but everyone played well. We all prepared for this season and said it would be a different one. We wouldn't start so strong and would have a slower start. We did that and are where we wanted to be. It is a good moment to think about retirement! No, no, no way. I think it wasn't an easy decision for me. I was really comfortable with my team [Laboral Kutxa] and I am a person who is fond of people, and it was very difficult for me to take this decision. It wasn't easy for me. So arriving here and doing this is just unbelievable. I put my body and mind into something that was completely different to what I was doing, just for one goal - today. What do I feel now? Your heart explodes and feelings get out of your body. You feel satisfied because there are many hours of work behind this and a lot of knee and ankle pain, every day, just to do this. What can I say? I am satisfied with myself, my family and my people, with everyone."

CAMPAZZO, FACUNDO
Real Madrid
"I am so happy! The feeling I have right now is unbelievable! We have to celebrate as this title deserves and start thinking on the next one. We had a great attitude and played with a lot of guts. We played hard the entire game and never gave up, and that helped us win."
FERNANDEZ, RUDY
Real Madrid
"I think this is amazing. Right now I feel great. This team played hard every time, and third year in a row we were in a final. And the third time was lucky for us. We are so happy, and it is unbelievable. I think pressure was only in the media. We played very very good game in the final. We played great, amazing defense, and tonight we beat a great team. "
LLULL, SERGIO
Real Madrid
"This is probably the best moment of my career. I am really happy. The team did a great job all weekend long. I think we deserved to win it, but sports doesn't relate to logic sometimes. We had to work harder than ever and here it is! We played hard and rebounded really well. We knew it was going to be a tough game and that Olympiacos never thinks a game is lost until the end. We got a 10-point lead, they came back but we won in the end."
AYON, GUSTAVO
Real Madrid
"I am very, very happy. Truth be told, every player aspires to win big titles like this one and we managed to do it, playing as a team. We played great defense and dominated the rebounds, and I think those were the keys to the game."
SLAUGHTER, MARCUS
Real Madrid
" It is amazing to bring the title back to Madrid, where it belongs. This is the best club in the history of sports. It has been a long time since 1995, and we brought it back. These are the best fans in the world. They deserve this. I am glad we won one here in Madrid. We are on top of Europe, and I feel like it."
BOUROUSIS, IOANNIS
Real Madrid
" I finally won! Finally I won the Euroleague! This team brought me here to win the Euroleague. I am so happy. There is another time to talk about that it happened against Olympiacos."
RODRIGUEZ, SERGIO
Real Madrid
"To be honest, we didn't expect to beat Olympiacos by so many points. We had a lot of pressure and a lot of excitement, the good kind of excitement. We also had a bit of fear after losing the last two Euroleague finals. It is incredible to be able to win this way. We rebounded really well and had a great defense on Spanoulis. It was a team win and now we are going to celebrate. I cannot wait to have the trophy in my hands!"
RIVERS, KC
Real Madrid
"It is big to finally get over that hump. We pushed through today, and this is a great accomplishment for Felipe and Rudy and all the guys who've been in the final twice. This is my first year here, and we finally got it. I am just excited to be part of it. It is hard for me to find words. The game was great. I tried to guard Spanoulis the whole time, and I tried to do my best on him. And I succeeded in doing it with help of my teammates. And other guys guarding him did it, too."
MACIULIS, JONAS
Real Madrid
"This is a dream that finally came true. I am really happy I could give my contribution for this victory. In the early part of the game we had some difficulties against their switching defense, but when we put our shooters to stretch the floor, they could do nothing."
SLOUKAS, KOSTAS
Olympiacos Piraeus
"We are disappointed, because we did not play the way we could have tonight. But, you know, it cannot always be the case that we play better. Real Madrid has a great team and deserved the win at the end of the night. We had our chance when we got back and took the lead 40-41, however Carroll hit a string of difficult shots and changed the game momentum. We lost our concentration, did not play well on defense and as a result lost the rebounds. The final deficit does not represent the real picture."
PRINTEZIS, GEORGIOS
Olympiacos Piraeus
"It is not possible to win every time. Real Madrid played better tonight; they made some difficult shots. It is hard to stop Madrid from playing at its preferred tempo. We are proud of our team after knocking out two great teams in Barcelona and CSKA Moscow in order to advance to the final game. We have recently been on the winner's side and know how wonderful the players of Real Madrid feel now. They have every right to celebrate, but I think we have no reason to feel bad. Okay, we did not have a good game, however we proved our status in European basketball."
PETWAY, BRENT
Olympiacos Piraeus
"Congratulations to Real Madrid for the win and the title. We missed a lot of shots and free throws, did not rebound the ball well and lost our concentration on the defensive end. Real Madrid players scored some crucial baskets, especially from the three-point line. If you want to win the title game, than you have to score big baskets; they did, we didn't. "
SPANOULIS, VASSILIS
Olympiacos Piraeus
"We did not play our best tonight. We were bad in rebounding and free throws. When we managed to come back at 40-41, we didn't have the energy to stay focused; maybe we felt tired. Real Madrid had the advantage of playing at home; It is important to feel the warmness of your gym. That's basketball; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. If you learn something of your defeats, that's the best way to learn how to win next time."