Won the impressions n AEK Betssongot the qualification o Panathinaikos AKTOR!
The “greens” found it “dark” against his most militant team Ilias Zourobut finally they managed to get the ticket for the semi-finals of the Final-8 of the Cup with a score of 79-72, waiting to face PAOK or Ari on Saturday (17/02, 18:00).
From the beginning of the match, the “yellow and black” showed that they will not make his job so easy Panathinaikou AKTOR like a few days ago in Liosia. THE AEK Betsson he stayed in the match until the end of the first half, when with a small burst the “clover” took a 39-30 lead.
Although in the second part the difference arrived up to +16the Union showed a reaction and came as close as 4 points in finale (74-70)stressing the “greens” who finally had the necessary composure for the difficult victory.
Leader of the winners with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals was Dino Mitoglouwhile a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds was had by Matias Lessor. 13 points and 6 assists were scored by Jerian Grant12 points o Kendrick Nunn and 11 points with 6 rebounds by Marius Grigonis.
From the Union, a big match in his return after almost two months was made by Mindaugas Kuzminskas, with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Exuberant with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists was o Chason Randlewhile 14 points but with 4/12 in the field was scored by Jordan McRae.
The match
Both teams started the game hitless and nervous, with Nan opening the scoring with a shot to make it 1-0. THE McRae put AEK Betsson ahead 1-2, however Grant scored the first hat-trick of the match for 4-2. THE Mitoglou wrote 6-2 with a nice spin, while o Lessor he followed for 8-4. Randle hit the Union’s first long shot for a layup, while Mitoglou made two shots to make it 10-7 before Kuzminskas he also made a three-pointer to tie the game at 10-10. The Greek forward took an offensive rebound and scored from close range (12-10), while a little later he suddenly scored 16-12. Randle with another three-pointer narrowed it down (18-15), with Mitoglou to go to the line again for 20-15, a score with which the first period ended.
Both teams started sluggishly in the second quarter as well. Netzipoglou reduced the score to 20-18 with a three-pointer from the corner, while o Sloukas on his return he wrote 22-18 from middle distance. Kouseloglou scored a very difficult foul goal and brought the match to a point (22-21), while Agravanis scored from close range to make it 22-23 for AEK Betsson, who played excellent defense. Nunn gave a solution to the greens, but Randle answered immediately for 24-25. THE Nan scored with new individual energy, before o Lessor win shots for 28-25. THE Agravanis kept Union close with nice efforts for 30-28, with Lessor hitting a hook and Mitoglou making it 36-30 with two shots. The Greek forward scored a three-pointer at the end of the half to make it 39-30.
In the second part, Grant scored from close range to bring the lead to double digits for the first time (41-30), with Kuzminskas answering with a dunk to make it 41-32. THE Grant hit two shots, while Grigonis made three for 46-32. AEK Betsson responded and quickly cut it to 46-37 with baskets by Knight and Morgan, but Nan cut the lead with a three-pointer and Lessor put in a hook for 51-37. THE Juancho produced impressive defense and Lessor scored in the surprise for 53-39, while the Spanish forward scored again for 55-41. The Greens had no problem maintaining their advantage until the end of the third period, which ended with a score of 59-48 thanks to a buzzer beater by McRae.
At the beginning of the last quarter, o McRae cut it to 59-50 from close range, while Kouseloglou nailed it for 59-52. Hollins reduced even more with a three-pointer (59-55), but Mitoglou answered him for 62-55. Grant gave another solution from mid-range, signing 64-55, while o Mitoglou replied to Hollins for 66-57. The excellent Kuzminskas brought AEK Betsson closer again (66-59), but Lessor comfortably defeated him on the other side and wrote 68-59. The Lithuanian was constantly trying to bring the Union together (70-62), but the “greens” found an answer with Nan (72-62). With two shots of it Yes T and a follow of him Kuzminskas, AEK Betsson got closer to 72-66 and made the match a derby. McRae hit a layup and Hollins hit a big 3-pointer to make it 74-70, but Randle he made a mistake on a critical attack and Grant wrote 76-70 with shots, “cleaning” the match.
The quarters: 20-15, 39-30, 59-48, 79-72
Detailed match statistics here.
Source: Sport Fm
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