Olympiacos Piraeus and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul will face off in the first semifinal of the EuroLeague Final Four at the OAKA Arena in Athens on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 17:00 CET.
Both teams advanced after winning their quarterfinal series: Olympiacos defeated Monaco in three games, while Fenerbahce overcame Zalgiris in four.
High-Stakes Clash
Olympiacos finished the regular season as the top seed, marking their fifth consecutive Final Four appearance.
However, they have lost their previous four attempts, including a final against Real Madrid and a semifinal buzzer-beater against Monaco.
Defending champion Fenerbahce enters with less pressure after winning the title last year in Abu Dhabi under coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.
The matchup features a tactical battle between Olympiacos' efficient offense and Fenerbahce's strong defense, led by EuroLeague second-best defender Nicolo Melli and Khem Birch.
Turnovers could be decisive: Olympiacos forced Fenerbahce into 17 turnovers during a 104-87 victory, while Fenerbahce limited their mistakes to eight turnovers to win their first regular-season meeting 88-80.
The semifinal showcases five EuroLeague first- and second-team stars: Sasha Vezenkov, Nikola Milutinov, and Tyler Dorsey for Olympiacos, alongside Fenerbahce guards Talen Horton-Tucker and Wade Baldwin.
Dorsey's Redemption
Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey, who was left off the 12-man tournament roster last season, has become a key player.
He averages 16.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game heading into the 2026 Final Four.
Dorsey said a direct conversation with coach Giorgos Bartzokas helped clear the air about his role.
He emphasized that his resurgence came from receiving playing time, not from changing his game or work ethic.
“I didn't change my game. I didn't change my work ethic.
It's just about the opportunity this year,” Dorsey told BasketNews.
He added that he has spent two weeks preparing specifically for the semifinal against Fenerbahce. “Just come in with confidence.
For me, it's just let my work play,” he said.
Dorsey dismissed any pressure from Olympiacos' five-year championship drought. “There's no pressure, man.
I put in the work. We live with the results,” he said.
Team captain Kostas Papanikolaou publicly selected Dorsey as the player he trusts most to handle the ball in a decisive final possession.
Dorsey responded, “Give me the ball. I'll put in the work.”
