Real Madrid claimed the first title of the European season, the first of the Pedro Martínez era, and the first after a year without silverware. They defeated Olympiacos 89-93 in the SuperCup final in Abu Dhabi, dominating much of the game and closing it out with a basket from Andrés Feliz in the final seconds.
A Devastating Start
Madrid came out looking to take control from the opening tip. Olympiacos scored first (2-0) and from there came a 0-9 run built on three consecutive three-pointers, putting the score at 12-22.
That was the hallmark of Madrid's offense all night: by the end of the first half, the team had taken as many two-pointers as three-pointers, sixteen of each. The first quarter closed at 15-24.
Another feature of the game was the rotations. With 1:28 remaining in the first period, Pedro Martínez had already given minutes to all twelve players, making five-for-five substitutions. Bartzokas, at that point, still had five players without playing time.
The high-tempo game also came with a cost: seven turnovers by the end of the first quarter and thirteen at halftime.
https://youtu.be/AEqOzTt3y0o?si=H08Y9CRXr49K8dx_
Madrid Withstands the First Greek Run
In the second quarter the lead hovered around ten points (15-25, 27-37, 30-40), despite fouls beginning to affect the Madrid squad. Tavares went to the bench at 4:06 before halftime with three personal fouls.
A three-pointer from Mikael Jantunen and a basket from Cory Joseph left it at 43-47 at the break.
The Greek Third Quarter
Olympiacos came out stronger after halftime and took the lead (50-47). With Madrid somewhat rushed and turning the ball over, the Greeks led by as much as five on several occasions (61-56, 63-58).
The Madrid side kept attacking from three—five of their first six shots of the quarter came from beyond the arc, with two consecutive makes from Gaby Deck—and found answers in Theo Maledon, who scored eight of his ten points in that period by forcing his way to the basket.
The problem remained fouls: with four minutes left in the quarter the count was 11 to 21, with Luwawu-Cabarrot and Chuma Okeke already with four fouls each.
A three-pointer from Alberto Abalde restored the lead (68-69) and Madrid extended it to 70-75, though the end of the quarter got complicated with a foul from Jantunen on Jean Montero and a technical on Pedro Martínez. It didn't cost them: the Dominican missed the second free throw and his own rebound attempt (72-75).
A Thrilling Finish
The fourth quarter started with a 0-7 Madrid run, capped by a three-pointer from Luwawu-Cabarrot returning to the court with four fouls.
Olympiacos didn't give up. Sasha Vezenkov scored five straight points and, at 83-89, Tavares lost the ball on what looked like an easy basket, punished by a three-pointer from Evan Fournier (86-89 with 2:22 remaining).
Two free throws from Facundo Campazzo provided some breathing room, but a turnover from Jaime Pradilla led to another three-pointer from Fournier, who was sharp down the stretch, bringing the Greeks within a basket (89-91) with 1:15 left.
It was decided by a sequence of details: Montero stepped out of bounds and returned possession to Madrid, Pradilla missed a three-pointer, Luwawu-Cabarrot grabbed the rebound, and Andrés Feliz scored the basket that sealed the 89-93 victory.
The Numbers
It was a very balanced final for Madrid. Luwawu-Cabarrot led the scoring with 12 points, followed by Pradilla, Jantunen, and Feliz with 11 each, and Maledon with 10.
Tavares finished with 6 points but grabbed 7 rebounds and his presence in the final stretch proved decisive in containing Olympiacos. That's why he was named MVP of the final.
On the Greek side, Vezenkov finished with 22 points, Fournier with 14, and Donta Hall with 13.