Ian Vougioukas (C) of Panathinaikos B.C. OPAP Athens competes with Edy Tavares of Real Madrid during the third match of the quarterfinals of Euroleague between Panathinaikos B.C. OPAP Athens and Real Madrid, in Athens, Greece, on April 23, 2019. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
ATHENS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid qualified for the 2019 Final Four of basketball's EuroLeague after narrowly defeating Panathinaikos OPAP 82-89 in Game 3 of their playoff series here on Tuesday.
Having won their two previous games against Panathinaikos last week, Real swept the best-of-five series to become the first side to make it through to this season's Final Four.
Real Madrid started the game strongly but at the end of the first half it was Panathinaikos who were ahead, leading 41-36.
Into the second half, both teams remained very close but a critical three-pointer three minutes before the end from Facundo Campazzo gave Real the lead, with Panathinaikos' Nick Calathes being kept firmly under control.
Campazzo and Rudy Fernandez scored 16 points each for Real Madrid, while Calathes was top scorer for Panathinaikos with 17 points.
The result sees Real Madrid qualify for the Final Four, which will take place in Spain's Vitoria on May 17th and 19th.
