Efes Istanbul wins the Euroleague for the first time

Efes Istanbul made history by winning the Euroleague for the first time against FC Barcelona 86 to 81 (quarter-time score: 15-22, 24-14, 26-22, 21-23) Sunday in Cologne. Despite a return of the Barcelona in a last quarter where the teammates of Pau Gasol even managed to equalize five minutes from the end, the Efes Istanbul, finalist of the previous edition in 2019 – the 2020 edition had been canceled at cause of the Covid-19 pandemic, has succeeded in resuming the attack to finally win.

With his leader Nick Calathes, doubtful after a sprained ankle in the semi-final Friday against Olimpia Milan, on the floor from the kick-off, Barcelona, ​​double winner of the event since its establishment in 1997, has started this final better than his opponent. Barcelona quickly led 5-0 then 10-5 to win the first quarter 22-15, thanks to their defense and ten points from Brandon Davies, and despite a lack of external skill (1/5 to 3 pts ). A first quarter which saw the entry into play of Pau Gasol, 40 years old and return to Barça this winter, 55 seconds from its end. Barça continued its momentum in the attack in the second quarter, bringing its lead to ten points (25-15 12th).

Barcelona did not give up

But the Barcelona then began to lack shooting skills, putting Istanbul back in the saddle which signed a 9-0 to return to a length (24-25), with in this good sequence an important award-winning basket from Tibor Pleiss. The Efes will even take, on two free throws from Larkin (30-29, 27th), an advantage that it will retain almost to the end.

But even led, or even behind, against Istanbulites who counted up to eleven lengths ahead in the third quarter (52-41, 59-48) with Vassilje Micic and their leader Shane Larkin in irons launches (top scorers of their team with 23 and 21 pts), Barcelona, ​​in great Europe, never gave up. Still seven lengths behind at the start of the last quarter, the Barcelona managed to come back up to their opponents (69-69 5 minutes from the end).

Larkin’s teammates were then able to keep their cool, to once again widen a gap and keep five lengths ahead in the end. Two French people participated in the victory of Efes Istanbul: Adrien Moerman and Rodrigue Beaubois, authors of 6 and 3 points respectively. Leo Westermann, the Frenchie of FC Barcelona, ​​did not play.