A triple for eternity by Micic: the champion extinguishes the Greek hell in Belgrade over the horn

What are they going to tell the demons of hell.

There is no noise that deafens the talent, there are no screams that stop the genius.

, Micic and Larkin, that couple that the future will talk about.

Those who led Anadolu Efes to dominate Europe, three consecutive finals, those who insist that their reign does not end.

One supported the Turks against the rebellion of self-esteem of Olympiacos, the other, the Serbian in Serbia, hit a three-pointer at the buzzer that will remain forever as an iconic image of the Final Four.

[Narration and statistics: 74-77]

Efes will defend its title on Saturday at the Stark Arena because it has what no one else has.

It has those who make the difference, those who take responsibility by the lapel when the ball burns.

, who had not exactly had his afternoon in Belgrade, who had missed four baskets, seven triples and even three free throws, did not hesitate in the least.

There were 19 seconds left and his team was in the middle of a traffic jam that smelled of drama: he had not scored in the game for more than seven minutes.

In the last play there was no more beginning or end than Micic.

He ran out of possession, called a screen, broke free of

and rose from the edge of the box to nail a glorious 3-pointer, a shot for eternity.

He ruined all the emphasis of Olympiacos, who had shown that there is no passion like his, more after this five-year absence that made him fall into oblivion to be one more.

The first year after

was that of seriousness, that of defense as a springboard, that of Walkup,

and Sasha Venzenkov as a pillar to raise tomorrow.

And that zeal in defense, as if their lives depended on each ball, had prevailed in the first semifinal, initially to get excited, with the giant Fall dominating the paint and with Micic failing more than necessary (14-7) by then.

Efes managed to get some air, but once again the group of

(best coach of the year in the Euroleague) returned to the fray, the coach with whom they had won their last crown back in 2013. A Walkup steal from Larkin that ended in Against Helena it was significant of the passions that were on the field, but the point guard from Florida had already started his bombardment.

It was his three-pointers (four at halftime) that supported the champion, who returned from the locker room with another vigor.

There Larkin found an unexpected sidekick.

, who shone at Maccabi and even participated last year in the Bucks ring, was uncovered after a gray season.

He joined the fest from the perimeter (he finished with a record 14) and multiplied on the court.

His best in the season was 15 points, but he was able to take a step forward in the moment of truth, where his team, with

, needed him most.

It was a brutal pull.

It seemed that the Greek strength was fading (48-59).

But then they woke up the referents of him.

Vezenkov and Dorsey, their leading scorers, had been kept clean at halftime.

They signed 15 points in the third act.

And in the end, they got even closer (69-70), while the temperature of the Stark Arena rose, red and white invasion.

The denouement was a nervous wreck.

What used to be a precious exchange was now failures and more failures, as if no one dared to be the hero.

The last basket in play for Efes had been by Larkin with 7:·39 to go.

Two free throws by

and a basket by

tied the game.

But then, the chosen one.

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