Fenerbahce guard Nando De Colo arrived on the 2026 EuroLeague Closing 4 with perspective that solely a veteran of 10 Closing 4 appearances can deliver. Talking Thursday in Athens, the 38-year-old mirrored on his final professional season and the chance to compete for one more title earlier than retirement.
De Colo confirmed earlier this season that 2025-26 could be the final 12 months of his profession, making this weekend’s Closing 4 at Telekom Heart Athens one of many closing chapters for one in all Europe’s most achieved guards. Fenerbahce will face Olympiacos in Friday’s semifinal after ending fourth within the common season with a 24-14 report and defeating Zalgiris 3-1 in the playoffs.
“For positive, for positive,” De Colo mentioned when requested whether or not reaching one other Closing 4 made his “final dance” extra particular. “As I say, it’s going to be my final season.”
The French veteran defined that joining Fenerbahce through the season was a part of a shared choice together with his household and one pushed by aggressive targets. “Once I had this chance to affix Fenerbahce, it was an excellent alternative for me,” De Colo mentioned. “We had massive targets to achieve with Fenerbahce and this was a giant motivation for me.”
That have has change into one of many greatest speaking factors coming into the Closing 4. Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius pointed to De Colo’s 10 Closing 4 appearances as a significant benefit for the Turkish membership in high-pressure moments.
Fenerbahce’s season has been constructed largely on protection after vital roster turnover following final 12 months’s title run. Jasikevicius noted that his group relied closely on defensive construction early within the season whereas the offense developed chemistry and continuity.
The matchup towards Olympiacos presents one other tough problem. Olympiacos completed first within the common season at 26-12 and swept Monaco in the quarterfinals with a mean successful margin of practically 25 factors throughout the sequence. The Greek membership additionally enters the weekend having reached 5 consecutive Closing Fours.
Even together with his résumé, De Colo stored the deal with having fun with the second whereas sustaining the identical professionalism that outlined his profession. “I nonetheless am the skilled participant I used to be all my profession,” he mentioned. “That is how I’m going to get pleasure from this Closing 4 and ensure we do the job the proper manner.”
The previous EuroLeague MVP and two-time champion additionally addressed late-game decision-making throughout a lighter second of the press convention. Requested whether or not he would take the ultimate shot in a championship sport or move to a teammate, De Colo emphasised belief and studying the ground fairly than forcing heroics.
“To be a clutch participant you might want to discover the proper choice,” De Colo mentioned. “It relies upon who’s in one of the best scenario to make the shot on the finish. You need the group to win.”
