Carroll on song as Real win ninth Euroleague title
ByReuters
Published 17/05/2015 at 21:22 GMT
Real Madrid won a record-extending ninth Euroleague title and their first since 1995 after American guard Jaycee Carroll inspired them to a 78-59 win over Olympiakos Piraeus on Sunday.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
Carroll stood out in an enthralling final, scoring 11 of his 16 points in the third quarter during a 13-3 Real run which gave the Spanish giants the lead for good after Olympiakos had earlier overturned an 11-point deficit.
"It feels great and this has been a long process for some of us who have been here for a few years," Carroll told Reuters.
"We had some disappointments in the past so to have finally done it and become Euroleague champions is incredible.
"I went out there relaxed and excited to play in a championship game. I hope I am going to be here for a long time and enjoy more success."
Earlier on Sunday, CSKA Moscow beat Fenerbahce Istanbul 86-80 in the third-place match.
Several thousand Greek fans spiced up an electrifying atmosphere in the Palacio de Deportes, with Real enjoying equally frenetic home support.
Having beaten Real 100-88 in the 2013 final in London's O2 Arena, Olympiakos threatened to again live up to their comeback kings billing after turning a 40-29 deficit into a 41-40 lead early in the third quarter.
Having seen Olympiakos come from behind to beat CSKA in Friday's semi after they also fought back to beat the Russian side in the 2012 final, the home fans held their breath as Real's offence came to a halt.
Enter Jaycee Carroll.
The 32-year-old from Wyoming nailed three successive three-pointers and a lay-up to restore Real's 10-point lead and spark a deafening roar from the jam-packed terraces.
Palpably running out of steam after Friday's absorbing contest against CSKA, Olympiakos were unable to force another twist with their inspirational playmaker Vassilis Spanoulis stifled.
King of Spain Felipe VI congratulated the Real Madrid players and staff as they were treated to a standing ovation by the home supporters, elated after their team ended a 20-year Euroleague title wait in spectacular fashion.
Poor free-throw shooting cost Olympiakos as they sank only 12 of 25 attempts from the foul line while Real buried 12 three-pointers and collected 40 rebounds, 15 more than their opponents.
Playmaker Sergio Llull and former Chicago Bulls forward Andres Nocioni, who was voted the Final Four's most valuable player, added 12 points each for Real while guard Matt Lojeski finished with a game-high 17 for Olympiakos.
Real coach Pablo Laso praised his team for bouncing back after losing successive finals in 2013 and 2014, having been beaten by Maccabi Tel Aviv 98-86 in last year's final.
"I think about how much we've worked to be here," he told a news conference.
"The courage, the heart and the character this team has shown. The players have shown the mettle to get back on their feet after the fall."
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