Today marks the ninth anniversary of the club’s ninth Basketball European Cup. Real Madrid clinched the trophy in the Final Four at the WiZink Center. Just like 20 years earlier for La Octava, the opponents in the final were Olympiacos. On this occasion, the Whites won 78-59, with Carroll shining in the third quarter (11 straight points out of his 16 total) and Nocioni being named MVP of the Final Four. This was the third trophy of the season, after the Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, for a team that would go on to reach a historic milestone that year by winning four trophies.
Before the title decider, the madridistas beat Fenerbahçe in the semi-finals (96-87) and Olympiacos overcame CSKA. In the final, the Greek side put up a fight and, despite being behind for most of the game, went ahead by one with 14 minutes to go at 40-41. However, Real Madrid knew they had a golden opportunity and did not waste it. Carroll and Nocioni propelled the team in the next few minutes and Llull put the game to bed to the delight of a passionate Palacio crowd. Felipe Reyes lifted one of the most memorable trophies because he did so in front of his home fans and in the city of Madrid.
78-Real Madrid: Llull (12), Rudy (7), Carroll (16), Reyes (2), Ayón (2) – S. Rodríguez (11), Nocioni (12), Maciulis (9), Rivers (5), Slaughter (2), Bourousis (0).
59-Olympiacos: Dunston (4), Spanoulis (3), Printezis (11), Mantzaris (1), Darden (0) – Petway (2), Hunter (10), Papapetrou (0), Sloukas (10), Agravanis (0), Lafayette (1), Lojeski (17).
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