BERLIN, May 14 (Reuters) - Fenerbahce Istanbul coach Zeljko Obradovic and his CSKA Moscow counterpart Dimitris Itoudis, once an almost unbeatable duo who won five Euroleague titles together, will face each other in an emotional final on Sunday.
The 56-year-old Obradovic steered Panathinaikos to five titles in Europe's premier club basketball competition during his 1999-2012 spell in charge, with Itoudis as his assistant.
The pair became very close but the friendship will be on hold when fiery Serb Obradovic, seeking a record-extending ninth Euroleague title with his fifth club, faces his 45-year old Greek rival.
"We will do our best to beat each other," Obradovic told Reuters with a wry smile after Fenerbahce ground out an 88-77 overtime win over Spaniards Laboral Kutxa Vitoria in Friday's semi-final.