Last Updated on August 11, 2026 by Maurya
The 2016 EuroLeague Final between CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahçe remains one of the most dramatic championship games in modern European basketball. Played in Berlin on 15 May 2016, the contest had almost everything a major final could offer: elite players, contrasting styles, a huge comeback, a last-gasp equalizer and an overtime period in which one of Europe’s great teams finally ended years of frustration.
CSKA Moscow appeared to have the championship under control after building a 50-30 halftime advantage, but Fenerbahçe produced a remarkable second-half recovery. The Turkish side eventually moved ahead late in the fourth quarter and stood just seconds from winning its first EuroLeague title.
Then came Victor Khryapa.
His offensive rebound and put-back tied the game at 83-83 and forced overtime. CSKA regained its composure during the additional five minutes, where Nando De Colo took control and helped the Russian club secure a memorable 101-96 victory.
It was CSKA’s seventh European crown and its first since 2008, while De Colo completed an extraordinary individual season by being named EuroLeague Final Four MVP.
2016 EuroLeague Final
| Match Detail | Information |
| Competition | 2015-16 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague |
| Match | Fenerbahçe vs CSKA Moscow |
| Date | 15 May 2016 |
| Venue | Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin |
| Final score | Fenerbahçe 96-101 CSKA Moscow |
| Regulation score | 83-83 |
| Halftime score | Fenerbahçe 30-50 CSKA Moscow |
| Overtime | Fenerbahçe 13-18 CSKA Moscow |
| Champions | CSKA Moscow |
| Final Four MVP | Nando De Colo |
| CSKA head coach | Dimitris Itoudis |
| Fenerbahçe head coach | Željko Obradović |
The official game statistics recorded quarter scores of 20-22, 10-28, 23-19, 30-14 and 13-18 in overtime. The game in Berlin was watched by 12,250 spectators.
The Setting: EuroLeague Final Four 2016 in Berlin
The 2016 EuroLeague Final Four was held at Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena from 13 to 15 May. Four teams arrived with legitimate championship ambitions: CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahçe, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar and Laboral Kutxa Vitoria Gasteiz.
CSKA entered the weekend carrying enormous pressure.
The Russian powerhouse had consistently assembled some of Europe’s deepest and most expensive rosters, but EuroLeague glory had escaped it since 2008. In the seasons immediately preceding Berlin, CSKA repeatedly reached the Final Four only to suffer painful defeats.
The 2016 team seemed capable of finally changing that narrative.
Dimitris Itoudis had an exceptional backcourt led by Nando De Colo and Miloš Teodosić, while Kyle Hines gave the team toughness and defensive intelligence inside. Cory Higgins, Victor Khryapa, Andrey Vorontsevich, Aaron Jackson and Nikita Kurbanov added depth and versatility.
Fenerbahçe represented a very different storyline.
Under legendary coach Željko Obradović, the Turkish club had rapidly developed into a European powerhouse. Obradović already owned eight EuroLeague titles before the Berlin Final Four, more than any other coach at that stage of the competition’s history.
Fenerbahçe had reached the Final Four in 2015 but was now seeking something even bigger: the club’s first appearance in a EuroLeague championship game and potentially the first EuroLeague title won by a Turkish club.
How CSKA Moscow Reached the 2016 EuroLeague Final
CSKA’s semifinal opponent was fellow Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar.
The Moscow side controlled the contest from the start and recorded an 88-81 victory. Nando De Colo delivered one of the finest Final Four semifinal performances of the era, scoring 30 points while also contributing four assists.
CSKA led 23-12 after the opening quarter and 47-37 at halftime before holding off Lokomotiv’s attempts to close the gap.
The performance reinforced De Colo’s status as the outstanding player of the 2015-16 EuroLeague season.
But beating Lokomotiv only got CSKA back to the stage where so many painful memories had been created. The real challenge would come two days later.
How Fenerbahçe Reached the Final
Fenerbahçe’s semifinal was even more dramatic.
Obradović’s team faced Laboral Kutxa Vitoria Gasteiz and needed overtime before eventually winning 88-77.
Bogdan Bogdanović played a decisive role, finishing with 18 points and scoring nine of them during overtime as Fenerbahçe finally pulled clear.
The result sent Fenerbahçe into its first EuroLeague championship game.
That set up a fascinating coaching confrontation as well. Itoudis had spent years working alongside Obradović at Panathinaikos before establishing his own head-coaching career. EuroLeague records list Itoudis as a Panathinaikos assistant from 1999 to 2012, while Obradović himself described Itoudis as one of his closest longtime partners.
Berlin therefore offered more than a battle between two elite rosters. It was also a meeting between two coaches whose basketball histories were deeply connected.
First Quarter: CSKA Establishes Control
There was little indication during the opening minutes that the game would eventually become one of the great EuroLeague Finals.
CSKA immediately looked comfortable offensively.
De Colo and Teodosić gave Itoudis two outstanding creators capable of attacking Fenerbahçe in different ways. De Colo could change speeds, draw contact and score efficiently, while Teodosić could punish defensive mistakes with his shooting and passing.
The opening quarter remained competitive, with CSKA leading 22-20 after ten minutes.
The real separation came immediately afterward.
Second Quarter: CSKA Blows the Game Open
CSKA produced a devastating second quarter.
Its offense generated efficient looks, its guards dictated the tempo and its defense disrupted Fenerbahçe’s rhythm. The Russian club won the period 28-10.
Suddenly the scoreboard read:
CSKA Moscow 50, Fenerbahçe 30.
A 20-point halftime advantage in a EuroLeague championship game looked enormous.
Fenerbahçe had struggled to generate consistent offense, while CSKA seemed capable of attacking from almost anywhere on the court.
For a team burdened by years of Final Four disappointments, CSKA appeared to be only 20 minutes away from finally removing that weight.
But this was precisely where the final became extraordinary.
Fenerbahçe Refuses to Surrender
Željko Obradović teams were rarely easy to finish off, and Fenerbahçe began the third quarter with renewed defensive aggression.
The Turkish side started attacking the glass, increasing the physical pressure and finding more offensive opportunities.
Fenerbahçe won the third quarter 23-19, cutting CSKA’s advantage to 69-53.
A 16-point deficit entering the fourth quarter was still significant, yet momentum was beginning to shift.
Then Fenerbahçe exploded.
Bobby Dixon, playing under the Turkish name Ali Muhammed, became increasingly influential from the perimeter. Luigi Datome and Pero Antić supplied scoring, while Ekpe Udoh battled inside.
The crowd sensed the change.
CSKA, meanwhile, started playing with the tension of a team that knew exactly how much was at stake.
The Fourth-Quarter Comeback
Fenerbahçe’s final-quarter performance transformed the championship game.
Obradović’s team outscored CSKA 30-14 in the fourth period.
Shots that had not fallen earlier suddenly started dropping. Defensive possessions became more aggressive. CSKA’s comfortable advantage disappeared possession by possession.
What had looked like a coronation became a fight for survival.
Bobby Dixon eventually helped bring Fenerbahçe level at 81-81 before the Turkish club went ahead.
With the score 83-81, CSKA faced the possibility of another devastating Final Four collapse.
De Colo had an opportunity to rescue the game but could not convert the initial attempt.
Victor Khryapa then produced the defining moment.
Victor Khryapa’s Put-Back Saves CSKA
With approximately 1.9 seconds remaining, Khryapa reacted to De Colo’s miss, secured the offensive opportunity and scored the put-back that tied the contest at 83-83.
Overtime.
The play lasted only seconds, but its importance to CSKA’s history is difficult to overstate.
Without Khryapa’s intervention, Fenerbahçe could have been celebrating the championship. Instead, CSKA received another five minutes to recover from a second-half collapse that had nearly destroyed its season.
EuroLeague’s retrospective account of De Colo’s performance specifically highlights Khryapa’s put-back after De Colo missed the potential winning attempt at the end of regulation.
It was the kind of championship moment that rarely appears prominently in season averages but becomes permanently attached to a player’s legacy.
Overtime: Nando De Colo Takes Control
CSKA entered overtime in a difficult psychological position.
It had just lost a 20-point halftime advantage and watched Fenerbahçe seize control of the game.
Instead of collapsing, CSKA responded like a champion.
De Colo became the central figure.
The French guard scored 10 points during overtime, helping CSKA regain control of the final. EuroLeague later noted that De Colo’s extra-period performance was decisive in turning an 83-83 game into a 101-96 CSKA victory.
CSKA won overtime 18-13.
The final buzzer confirmed one of the biggest victories in club history:
CSKA Moscow 101, Fenerbahçe 96.
Eight years after its previous European championship, CSKA was back on top.
Nando De Colo: MVP of the 2016 EuroLeague Final Four
No player was more closely associated with CSKA’s championship than Nando De Colo.
He finished the final with:
- 22 points
- 7 assists
- 3 steals
- 9-of-10 free-throw shooting
- 26 Performance Index Rating
De Colo had already scored 30 points against Lokomotiv Kuban in the semifinal, giving him 52 points across the two Final Four games.
He was subsequently named 2016 EuroLeague Final Four MVP.
The award completed an exceptional season. De Colo was also the 2015-16 EuroLeague MVP and the competition’s leading scorer at 19.4 points per game.
His Berlin performance demonstrated why he had become one of Europe’s most complete guards. De Colo did not rely exclusively on explosive athleticism or three-point shooting. His effectiveness came from balance, timing, decision-making, footwork and his exceptional ability to draw fouls.
When CSKA needed control in overtime, he provided it.
Miloš Teodosić Finally Becomes a EuroLeague Champion
De Colo received the Final Four MVP trophy, but Miloš Teodosić was equally important to CSKA’s victory.
The Serbian playmaker recorded:
19 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
He made three three-pointers and eight of nine free throws while producing a game-high PIR of 29 according to CSKA’s official statistics.
For Teodosić, the victory carried additional emotional significance.
One of European basketball’s most gifted passers had experienced several painful Final Four defeats. Berlin finally gave him the championship that had been missing from his résumé.
Kyle Hines and CSKA’s Supporting Cast
Championship teams rarely win with only two stars.
Kyle Hines scored 15 points, making six of his seven two-point attempts. Cory Higgins added 12 points, while Andrey Vorontsevich scored 11.
Khryapa finished with 10 points and five rebounds, but those numbers hardly describe his importance. His equalizing basket at the end of regulation was arguably the single most significant possession of the entire final.
CSKA’s supporting cast gave Itoudis enough scoring, defense and experience to survive a game that could easily have escaped.
Fenerbahçe’s Best Performers
Fenerbahçe’s defeat should not overshadow the quality of its comeback.
Bobby Dixon led the team with 17 points, including five three-pointers.
Three players scored 16:
- Ekpe Udoh – 16 points and 11 rebounds
- Luigi Datome – 16 points and 5 rebounds
- Pero Antić – 16 points
Udoh also recorded four blocked shots, demonstrating the defensive presence that would become even more important during Fenerbahçe’s championship run the following season.
Bogdan Bogdanović had a difficult shooting night after starring in the semifinal. He finished with six points and missed all six of his three-point attempts.
Jan Veselý also endured a particularly painful night at the free-throw line, making just one of ten attempts.
In a game decided by five points after overtime, those missed opportunities mattered enormously.
The Statistics That Decided CSKA vs Fenerbahçe
The final score suggests two evenly matched teams, but several statistics explain why CSKA ultimately survived.
Two-point shooting
CSKA converted 22 of 36 two-point attempts — 61%.
Fenerbahçe made only 18 of 40 — 45%.
That difference allowed CSKA to generate efficient offense even when its three-point shooting was relatively ordinary.
Free throws
This was arguably the most important statistical gap.
CSKA shot an exceptional:
30 of 32 — 93%
Fenerbahçe finished:
27 of 39 — 69%
Twelve missed Fenerbahçe free throws became extremely significant in a five-point overtime defeat.
Rebounding
Interestingly, Fenerbahçe dominated the offensive glass and won the total rebound battle 38-32, including a huge 16-6 advantage in offensive rebounds.
That extra possession generation helped make its comeback possible.
Ball movement
CSKA recorded 22 assists, compared with Fenerbahçe’s 16.
Both teams committed 13 turnovers.
The statistical picture fits the game: Fenerbahçe’s physicality and offensive rebounding repeatedly created second chances, while CSKA relied on superior efficiency and outstanding free-throw shooting.
Dimitris Itoudis Defeats His Former Mentor
The coaching storyline gave the final another layer of significance.
Itoudis had worked alongside Obradović at Panathinaikos for more than a decade before becoming an accomplished head coach himself. Together they had been involved in one of the most successful periods in Panathinaikos history.
In Berlin, however, they stood on opposite benches.
Obradović entered the Final Four as an eight-time EuroLeague-winning head coach. Itoudis was trying to win his first title as a head coach.
For much of the first half, Itoudis’ game plan worked brilliantly. CSKA used its guard talent and offensive efficiency to build the 20-point advantage.
Obradović responded with the adjustments and emotional intensity required to bring Fenerbahçe back.
But when the championship reached overtime, CSKA recovered and Itoudis secured the biggest victory of his coaching career to that point.
He would later lead CSKA to another EuroLeague championship in 2019.
What the 2016 EuroLeague Title Meant for CSKA Moscow
CSKA did not simply win another trophy in Berlin.
The club ended an eight-year wait for a European championship.
That mattered because CSKA had come painfully close several times between its 2008 and 2016 titles. The talent had rarely been questioned. The ability to finish the job on Final Four weekend had.
Berlin changed the narrative.
The championship validated the De Colo-Teodosić backcourt, established Itoudis as a EuroLeague-winning head coach and gave veterans such as Khryapa another defining moment in club history.
EuroLeague’s own retrospective description of CSKA’s era notes that the painful championship disappointments of previous years were finally buried by the overtime victory over Fenerbahçe in Berlin.
What the Defeat Meant for Fenerbahçe
For Fenerbahçe, losing after completing such a spectacular comeback was heartbreaking.
Yet Berlin proved something important: the club was ready to compete at the absolute highest level.
Fenerbahçe had reached its first championship game and came within seconds of lifting the trophy.
Rather than marking the end of the journey, the defeat became part of the foundation for what followed.
One year later, Fenerbahçe returned to the EuroLeague Final Four — this time in Istanbul — and defeated Olympiacos 80-64 in the 2017 championship game.
That victory made Fenerbahçe the first Turkish club to win the EuroLeague and gave Obradović his ninth European crown.
Players such as Udoh, Bogdanović, Veselý, Datome and Sloukas had taken the disappointment of Berlin and converted it into championship experience.
Why the 2016 EuroLeague Final Is Still Remembered
Several factors make CSKA Moscow vs Fenerbahçe in 2016 one of the standout EuroLeague Finals.
First was the comeback.
A 20-point halftime advantage would normally suggest a relatively comfortable final. Instead, Fenerbahçe transformed the second half and actually took the lead.
Second was Khryapa’s equalizer.
Championship games are remembered through individual possessions, and his late put-back remains one of the defining plays of that EuroLeague era.
Third was De Colo’s overtime performance.
Great players are measured partly by what they do when a season is reduced to a handful of possessions. De Colo responded by taking control when CSKA desperately needed stability.
Finally, the game changed the direction of both clubs.
CSKA ended years of European frustration, while Fenerbahçe used the defeat as a stepping stone toward its historic 2017 championship.
FAQs
Who won the 2016 EuroLeague Final?
CSKA Moscow won the 2016 EuroLeague Final, defeating Fenerbahçe 101-96 after overtime in Berlin.
What was the score after regulation?
The score was 83-83 after four quarters.
Who forced overtime in the 2016 EuroLeague Final?
CSKA captain Victor Khryapa scored a late put-back following a missed Nando De Colo attempt to tie the game and force overtime.
Who was the 2016 EuroLeague Final Four MVP?
Nando De Colo was named Final Four MVP. He scored 30 points in CSKA’s semifinal victory over Lokomotiv Kuban and another 22 points in the championship game against Fenerbahçe.
How many points did Miloš Teodosić score in the final?
Teodosić scored 19 points and added seven assists and five rebounds.
Where was the 2016 EuroLeague Final played?
The championship game was played at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany, on 15 May 2016.
Did Fenerbahçe win the EuroLeague the following season?
Yes. Fenerbahçe returned to the championship game in 2017 and defeated Olympiacos 80-64 to become the first Turkish club to win the EuroLeague.
Final Thoughts
The 2016 EuroLeague Final between CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahçe had the structure of a basketball epic.
CSKA dominated the first half. Fenerbahçe refused to disappear. A 20-point advantage evaporated. The championship appeared to change hands. Victor Khryapa rescued CSKA at almost the final possible moment, and Nando De Colo then took command in overtime.
The 101-96 victory gave CSKA Moscow its long-awaited return to the top of European basketball and added another unforgettable chapter to the club’s history.
For Fenerbahçe, Berlin brought heartbreak rather than celebration, but its response proved equally significant. Twelve months later, the Turkish powerhouse became European champion.
That combination of comeback, pressure, individual brilliance and long-term historical importance is why the 2016 EuroLeague Final – CSKA Moscow vs Fenerbahçe remains essential viewing for anyone interested in the history of European basketball.
