The predictions from September have been confirmed by the competition itself: Madrid is a Final Four team. After a one-year absence, the club returns to the European basketball elite, maintaining an almost unbreakable streak over the past decade and a half. Since 2011, they have missed only four editions (2012, 2016, 2021, and 2025). No other club comes close to those numbers, especially after CSKA Moscow’s sanction. This consistency was not always the case—during the years when the white basketball team wandered through the desert, they endured 14 consecutive final phases (1997-2010) without qualifying, watching from afar on television.
The victory at the Bulgarian Botevgrad Arena (81-87, 3-1) with even fewer spectators than Tuesday, a poor image for the playoffs and Euroleague, confirms Sergio Scariolo’s squad’s access to the great European club event. His team chased an accelerated pace to navigate the perennial road difficulties this season, and it paid off. A symbolic moment came by securing the ticket away from the Movistar Arena, where they had stumbled in 14 of the previous 20 games.
The score tightened at the end, but at the start of the fourth quarter, Madrid led by 15 (55-70) after Dimitris Itoudis gave a brief breather to his, this time, diabolical duo: the best Vasilije Micic in the generation (34 efficiency rating) and the relentless hammer of Dan Oturu (another 34 credits with 5 blocks and an incredible 14-of-21 on two-pointers—a volume almost impossible to see from a center in modern basketball). With the opponent’s five at maximum level, Usman Garuba matched that level—fewer numbers but greater collective impact. In the absence of Tavares, the youth academy product played through various ailments, particularly a painful left hand that seemed to bother him, yet he proved decisive (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 20 efficiency rating). Crucial moments also came from Feliz and his relentless courage, Maledon (14 points in 14:46), Deck’s defense on Elijah Bryant. Additionally, we saw elevated versions of Campazzo and Hezonja.
Vasilije Micic and Alberto Abalde.
A. Koshedzhiyski
And that despite a disappointing start. Len made two free throws to open the game, but was repeatedly outplayed by Oturu, whom Micic fed on the pick-and-roll. Hapoel gifted an 11-0 run. Hezonja broke the drought under the basket off a Campazzo pass, and Oturu replied with his fifth consecutive basket. In just four and a half minutes, he had 10 points (18 by halftime). A concerning 13-4 on the scoreboard. Scariolo turned to Garuba with his left hand protected and replaced Len. Total metamorphosis.
Campazzo, Hezonja, and Okeke sparked the first surge, and with the score at 21-19, the full second unit on the floor delivered a dry punch. A 0-17 run (8-32 from the 13-4 mark) pushed them 15 ahead: 21-36. Excellent stretch from Maledon—incisive and decisive, creating advantageous situations. Magnificent except for a couple of turnovers. That was one of Madrid’s issues: loose balls (11 lost by halftime, 17 total). In exchange, they galloped (and took risks) whenever possible, backed by rebounding dominance (29 to 41). Up to 21 of the 46 first-half points came in transition. Garuba was a differential factor defensively, and Feliz added another gear.
However, like Tuesday, Madrid faded midway through the second quarter. The rotation acted as a brake, and the Italian coach had to send Len and Llull back to the bench: 34-39. A zone defense…
