The Euroleague has a new champion, and it is none other than Panathinaikos of Greece! The Greens triumphed 83-89 over Kinder Bologna on its own court in the Euroleague Final on Sunday in a thriller that should go down as one of the great title games in history. By coming back from 14 points down against Kinder at PalaMalaguti in Bologna, Panathinaikos has collected its third Euroleague title in seven years. Head coach Zeljko Obradovic rose to the status of coaching legend, winning his fifth title with four different clubs in eight Final Four appearances over 11 years. After a Kinder second-quarter burst that gave rise to euphoria in the largely local crowd, Panathinaikos patiently worked its way back into the game. Center Lazaros Papadopoulos was the catalyst of the comeback, but in the second half veterans Dejan Bodiroga, Ibrahim Kutluay and Johnny Rogers took over. Kutluay finished with 22 points for the new champions, Bodiroga had 21 and Papadopoulos 12. Kinder, which gives up its title, was led by Emanuel Ginobili with 27 points and Matjaz Smodis with 13.

INTERVIEW: IBRAHIM KUTLUAY, PANATHINAIKOS

After a long climb from obscurity to the very heights of the European game, Turkish basketball in 2002 finally had a player it could call champion of the continent: Ibrahim Kutluay. Having been to the Final Four previously, with Efes Pilsen in 2000, Kutluay knew that great performances were necessary to win, and he put up his own in the 2002 title game. After the host team, Kinder Bologna, took off to a 14-point lead, Kutluay started sending up shots. They kept falling until he had a team-high 22 points, the last three coming on a huge three-pointer in the closing minutes that put Panathinakos in the clear for the title. Never before had a son of Turkey held the Euroleague trophy in his hands, and what's more, Kutluay had everything to do with the victory.

You got a lot of responsibility for your team's scoring in Bologna. How were you able to manage it?

"We had a great team last season and before the Final Four. We all believed that we would become champions. We had an excellent performance during the Final Four and I think we deserved the championship. I took the responsibility of my team in the last minutes because someone has to do it. I made a very critical three-pointer to change the destiny of the match. I repeat that we had a great performance as a team, not individually. Dejan Bodiroga also did great job for us. The star players are there to play those critical moments. And I think both me and Bodiroga did what we knew how to do. And to be the first Turkish player to win the Euroleague trophy also is another great moment for me."

Is this the greatest memory in your basketball career?

"I had lots of unforgettable memories in my basketball career. But of course, winning the Euroleague trophy is the best thing in my basketball life. I had many personal successes in the past, like top scorer of Europe, Turkey and MVP awards, but as a team performance, the 2002 Euroleague final is the best memory of my life. I'm honored to be part of Panathinaikos's success last year." 

It was unusual to have a Final Four with a home team. Do you think it made a difference in Bologna?

"I know how it feels playing big games at home. It puts a little pressure on the home team to play in front of your home spectators. Sometimes it makes you feel much more nervous than any other time. On the other hand, it's a great advantage to have the huge support of your own with you."

You played for the coach who has won more Euroleague titles than any other. Could you see why in the final game against Kinder?

"Yes. Zeljko Obradovic is my idol. He was born to be a coach. He is an expert on basketball. It's always very different than my past memories with coaches. I respect all my ex-coaches but Coach Obradovic is the one who can change the destiny of the game like a great player. And against Kinder in the Final Four of Euroleague 2002, we felt that advantage, too."