Panathinaikos has clinched a spot in the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four after securing a 75-67 win over Anadolu Efes in Game 5 of their playoff series. With this victory, the defending champions won the series 3-2 and are now set to defend their title in Abu Dhabi. The Greens will face Fenerbahce in semi-final.
Cedi Osman was the standout performer for Panathinaikos, scoring 28 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. His dominant performance helped his team break down the defense of his boyhood club, Anadolu Efes. Jerian Grant contributed with 11 points and 8 rebounds, while Kendrick Nunn added 12 points despite struggling with his shooting throughout the game.
On the other hand, Efes was led by Elijah Bryant, who scored 16 points, and Shane Larkin, who added 12. However, both guards struggled from the field, finishing with a combined 8-for-26 shooting. Panathinaikos capitalized on their rebounding advantage, outrebounding Efes 50-35, which played a crucial role in their victory.
The game started with a quick 10-3 lead for Panathinaikos, but Efes quickly fought back to take a 12-10 lead. What followed was a whirlwind 24-3 run by Panathinaikos, giving them a commanding 36-13 advantage midway through the second quarter. Osman was nearly unstoppable during this stretch, putting Efes on the ropes.
Efes responded with a 13-0 run of their own, regaining some momentum and closing the gap to 41-30 at halftime. Osman’s 17 first-half points were critical, as Nunn added 8 during a brief hot streak in the second quarter.
The second half saw Efes close the gap further. Panathinaikos, despite dominating the boards, failed to pull away due to poor shooting performances from Nunn and Kostas Sloukas. Efes cut the lead to 47-44 late in the third quarter, but Konstantinos Mitoglou’s buzzer-beating three-pointer gave Panathinaikos a 53-46 lead heading into the final frame.
Larkin attempted to spark a comeback with a couple of three-pointers, pulling Efes to within 65-61. However, Grant hit a crucial shot off the glass to push the lead back to 69-61, sealing the win for Panathinaikos.
Despite Efes’ continued fight, they could not overcome the deficit. Panathinaikos celebrated wildly as the final buzzer sounded, securing their place in the Final Four and a chance to defend their 2024 EuroLeague title.
