+ A yellow tide for Monaco

Eliminated last year in the fifth and last game of the play-offs by Olympiacos supported by its boiling public, the "Roca Team" will this time have the advantage of the field after taking the fourth place even before its last match, Friday on the field of Efes Istanbul (defeat 87-72).

But, on the road to its first Final Four (and the first of a club in the France championship since Asvel in 1997), it will again find, from April 25 or 26, an incandescent room: the Menora Mivatchim Arena all in colorful yellow, lair of the biggest club in Israel and one of the best Europeans, mounted six times on the roof of the continent.

The "Maccabi", crowned for the last time in 2014, secured fifth place on Thursday thanks to his victory after extra time against Real Madrid (100-96). A meeting that had to leave prematurely, ankle loose, Lorenzo Brown, American leader European champion with Spain in 2022 and one of Tel Aviv's main weapons.

+ Olympiacos in the firmament

If it passes the Israeli hurdle, ASM could meet in the semifinals at the Final Four (May 19-21 in Kaunas, Lithuania) its tormentor of 2022.

Olympiacos, who finished the regular season in the lead for the first time in their history (24 wins for 10 losses), seems even better equipped than last year to win the supreme title that has eluded them since 2013.

His five majors, still coached by Georgios Bartzokas, have moved little and he can count on a Sasha Vezenkov who has taken an extra dimension this season. The Bulgarian-born power forward has the best rating (22.2 average) in the Euroleague, where he is the top scorer (17.6 pts on average) and second best rebounder (7.1).

Olympiacos power forward Sasha Vezenkov during the last Final Four against Efes Istanbul on May 19, 2022 in Belgrade © Pedja Milosavljevic / AFP/Archives

With Vezenkov, the Greeks, opposed to Fenerbahçe in the play-offs, won their two meetings against FC Barcelona (2nd) and Real Madrid (3rd), who will also have the advantage of the field in the quarters.

Spain's two rivals, such as Olympiacos, Monaco and Maccabi, were already present in the play-offs last year. Efes Istanbul, two-time defending champions, will however be absent after a season too irregular, especially at home: six defeats, including two important in the "money time" against Partizan Belgrade and Maccabi, rivals for qualification.

+ The Zalgiris pursues its dream

Partizan (6th), precisely, will participate in the play-offs for its first participation in the Euroleague since 2013-2014, invited in favor of the suspension of Russian clubs. A new tour de force for the legendary Serbian coach Zeljko Obradovic, the most successful in the competition: nine titles, including the first with Partizan (the only one of the Serbian club), where he returned in 2021. Under him, French pivot Mathias Lessort had a brilliant regular season (best rebounder with 7.2 shots per game average, 12.2 pts).

The other two new faces compared to last year are Fenerbahçe (8th) and Zalgiris Kaunas (7th) who, after the defeat Thursday of Vitoria against Olympiacos (86-78), had its destiny in hand.

Zalgiris Kaunas players delighted with their qualification for the Euroleague play-offs in Munich, April 14, 2023 © Christof STACHE / AFP

His players seized it, winners in the room of Bayern Munich (83-80) who had the ball of the equalization.

Lithuania's flagship club, who won the title in 1999, will have to knock out Barça on the road to the Final Four at home, a year after taking last place in the regular season. Real will face Partizan.

Quarter-finals (starting April 25 or 26, best-of-five rounds)

Olympiacos (1) - Fenerbahçe (8)

Monaco (4) - Maccabi Tel Aviv (5)

FC Barcelona (2) - Zalgiris Kaunas (7)

Real Madrid (3) - Partizan Belgrade (6)

Final Four May 19-21 in Kaunas

© 2023 AFP