Prince Felipe did not have a free seat. All of Aragón wanted to see Casademont Zaragoza in the semifinals to crown the best season in its history. It was one of those special days. The whistle blew, the ball flew, and suddenly, darkness. Galatasaray put on a defensive exhibition and unsettled their rival, who was unable to score. One basket in nine minutes. Two in the entire quarter. Ruinous percentages (2/17). Zaragoza’s great celebration turned into torment and ended with a failed comeback attempt (63-56). The final, on Sunday, will face two Turkish teams: Galatasaray against Fenerbahçe.
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Zaragoza, very tense, took almost four minutes to score against a very serious defensive team, with many centimeters and a Marina Johannes, quick feet and deadly wrist, with exceptional class that punished the Maño basket from the outside. With 15-2, Firat Okul took advantage to cool down two of his pillars: Johannes and Dorka Juhasz. The game was starting to go their way. The first quarter was almost decisive (24-4).
The second did not start any better (36-9). Nervousness took over all of Zaragoza. From Mariona Ortiz to Carlos Cantero, perhaps the two main people responsible for the miracle that has taken a second-tier team to the elite, with the win in the regular league in Spain, and the Euroleague semifinals. Never seen before. The coach, the perfect man for this team, searched the bench and brought out Nerea Hermosa and Carla Leite. The Spaniard focused on the small details, the latter took off the mask that protected the cheekbone she broke in the quarterfinals. Together they lifted a team that seemed dead. Zaragoza finally dropped below 20 points (37-20), the crowd began to shout “yes we can” and Firat Okul called a timeout to prevent the resurrection of a rival he thought was defeated.
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🦁 All of Zaragoza roaring!
@CasademontZGZ is looking for a spot in the final.
Enjoy the Final Six of the #EuroLeagueWomen on @movistarplus for €9.99 per month. pic.twitter.com/duBxw7duUT
— Movistar Plus+ Deportes (@MPlusDeportes) April 17, 2026
Cantero took advantage of the break to organize an adjustment defense to stop Johannes. Juhasz, injured, could not return to the court. Zaragoza, little by little, chipped away at the difference, point by point until the last quarter arrived and, after a three-pointer by Carla Leite, they were only nine points behind (49-40). Felipe roared. Zaragoza does not give up. It goes against their DNA. Another push, led this time by Hempe, left them only six points behind (62-56) and possession. Another demonstration of self-love from this family. But on the next play, they lost the ball and ran out of time for another epic comeback.
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