Abu Dhabi is burning. The temperature reaches 45°C in the shade, and staying in the sun, even for a few minutes, becomes torturous.

The heat, humidity, and suffocating air create a setting that is hard to associate with a sporting event – especially the top European club tournament.

Even more remarkable is the fact that, despite the Euroleague Final Four being held, there is not a single trace of it in the city. No posters, no banners, not even a mention at the airport.

It’s as if someone is deliberately trying to let the most important basketball event of the season go unnoticed.

Within this invisible environment, rumors are intensifying. On social media, claims quickly spread of the arrest and deportation of two fans – one of Panathinaikos and one of Olympiacos – following a heated verbal altercation with insults.

The information has not yet been officially confirmed, but it reflects the nervousness and widespread concern about the strictness of local authorities. In the United Arab Emirates, tolerance for misconduct is zero – and that’s something well understood by those who traveled there.

Nonetheless, all eyes remain on the court. Panathinaikos enters the battle as the defending champion. With Ergin Ataman on the bench and players like 2024 MVP Kostas Sloukas, Lessort, Nunn, and Papagiannis, the “Greens” face Fenerbahce, coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, in the first semifinal (6:00 PM Greece time).

Their goal: back-to-back titles – a feat not achieved since the glorious days of Zeljko Obradovic.

In the second semifinal (9:00 PM Greece time), Olympiacos faces Monaco. The team of Giorgos Bartzokas, which was eliminated in last year’s semifinal by Real Madrid, seems this year determined and mentally ready to go the distance.

The “Reds” show energy, cohesion, and a clear target: returning to the top of Europe, twelve years after the legendary 2013 triumph. Their opponent: a talented but inconsistent Monaco.

Led by Mike James and featuring an explosive backcourt with Okobo and Diallo, the French side is capable of doing damage – as long as it can limit internal tensions and display consistency.

And yet, in this quiet environment lacking any fanfare, a taxi driver simply and succinctly captured the spirit of the moment:
“Panathinaikos is playing Fener, Olympiacos is playing Monaco. Good luck to both.”