AEK Betsson BC looked Fener in the eye for 30 minutes and made promises for the future!

It may have lost to… Euroleague Fenerbahce, but this one AEK Betsson BC liked it and left promises for the future and the new racing season in Greece and BCL!

“Union” managed to look into… eyes for 30 minutes the mighty Turkish team in “Sunel Arena” of Ano Liosia, however, in the end ran out of strength and succumbed to the superiority of the opponent, knowing the defeat with a score of 85-75.

For three whole quarters, his team Dragan Sakota was in contention for the match, even getting the upper hand in the score several times during the match. However, one 5 minute “blackout” early in the fourth quarter – where Fenerbahçe went on a 10-0 run – it was enough to see them lose in a friendly at home in front of their home crowd in their dress rehearsal for the new year.

The first scorer for the hosts was the excellent tonight Grand Golden with 15 points, while valuable solutions were given by Kuzminskas and Alin.

The match:

OR AEK Betsson BC started the game with Hamp, Alin, Netzipoglou, Kouzeloglou and Golden in its starting five, entering the match strongly thanks to the mercy and the push it got from the “yellow and black” platform. With a two-pointer by Golden and a goal-foul by Netzipoglou, “Union” took the lead 5-2 in the 2nd minutefor an offensive crescendo of Fener to come behind the 6.75m. with Wilbekin and Zagarts to do 13-8 two minutes later.



With the point of the spear him Goldenwho scored two quick baskets (10 points in the period), AEK overtook for the 16-15 at 6′, before the visitors went on a quick 8-0 run for +7 and at 16-23 a minute later. At that point and until the end of the period, the “yellow and black” tightened their defense, gnawing away at the difference with Golden, Kuzminskas and Karabela for the 21-23 of the quarter.

The scene was similar in the second period, where AEK presented a highly competitive face, giving strong battles on both ends of the floor. It is indicative that at the beginning of the quarter, Fener escaped with 27-21, with “Union” immediately responding through its good defense and with an 8-0 run, once again taking the upper hand in the score (29-27 ) at 14′.

Since then, the two teams traded consecutive shots, with Golden, Aline and Hamp finding their way to the opposing basket for 37-37 at 18′. In fact, a little later, the captain of the “yellow and black”, Dimitris Flionis, with his first basket in the match made it 39-37, before Fener with four points by Meli and a three-pointer by Wilbekin in the last minute – the result of a “dead” interval for AEK – , send the two teams to the locker room with the Turks leading with 44-39.

Her start was completely balanced third period, with AEK finding eight fine points in the first four minutes of the quarter with Golden, Alin and Bryce following some good and quick partnerships for 47-49. His five collected points Goodrichallowed Fener to escape to +7 (47-54). Even then, however, the “Queen” had the answer with his three-pointer Alinhis two points Garlic and terrible nailing of it Kuzminskas from a steal by Flionis, tied at 55-55 at 27′! Two three-pointers by Sanli and Colson aggressively “unstuck” Fener (57-61), keeping the difference at 4 points for 61-65 of the quarter.

And while everything looked like we were going to have an…unexpected friendly derby, a 5-minute “blackout” for AEK early in the fourth and final period allowed Fenerbahce to go on a 10-0 run, blowing the lead for the first time at +14 and 61-75. Despite this composure, the “Union” came out offensively thanks to two boyish baskets by Parker and two shots by Kouseloglou, reducing to 67-75 at 36′. However, the home side could not get back into contention as the quality of the Turks spoke in the finale, keeping the gap high and reaching in the victory with the final 85-75.

The quarters: 21-23, 39-44, 61-65, 75-85.

AEK: Skordilis 2, Hamp 4, Karabelas 1, Flionis 2, Bryce 5, Fillios, Parker 8, Kuzminskas 8, Netzipoglou 11, Alain 11, Kouseloglou 8, Golden 15.

Lantern: Birchen 6, Wilbekin 12, Meli 12, Sanli 9, Mahmutoglu 2, Hayes-Davies 3, Hall, Pierre, Goodrich 10, Zagars 13, Coulson 12, Birch 4.