The first title is gone...
Olympiacos did not succeed in winning the first title of the year. He lost the Greek Cup Final to AEK 88-83.
Fast pace and individual initiatives were the main characteristics of the first quarter, which actually benefited AEK. That's because our team may have dominated the battle in the post, however, AEK thanks to very good perimeter percentages (4/4 till that point), closed the first quarter leading 26-23. Relying on their good percentages, the Sakota players maintained the lead and actually found themselves at +8 (41-33 at 17'). Our team put pressure in the defense, passed the ball inside and with a partial 9-2 made a one point game (42-43). With a follow up at the end of the first half, Kavvadas sent AEK to the locker rooms with +3 (42-45), however, Olympiacos made a strong beginning in the second half and with a three by Spanoulis tied the game (47-47 at 22'). With great effort and four back to back points by Nikola Milutinov, the 'reds' took the lead by 1 (61-60 at 28'), however, AEK was able, taking also advantage of the free throws bonus to regain the lead and the control of the game (65-72 at 32').
A scoring barrage by Janis Strelnieks and Jamel McLean helped Olympiacos close in to two (70-72), however, AEK, mainly scoring from the free throw line, increased the margin (+7, 76-83 at 37'). The Sfairopoulos' players did not give up the fight… They closed in 82-84 at 39', while 40'' before the end, Papapetrou ran the fast break to tie the game, but missed. A bucket by Harris followed that (82-86), that actually decided everything… With 10.3'' to the end, Janis Strelnieks made the score 83-86 (1/2 free throws), while with 2/2 from the same position, Punter wrote the final 83-88.
The quarters: 23-26, 42-45, 63-65, 83-88.
Οlympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Spanoulis 20 (3 3p, 9 as), Μilutinov 17 (8 reb), Printezis 10 (2), Papanikolaou 4, Μantzaris 3 (1), ΜcLean 10, Papapetrou 5, Strelnieks 14 (2), Roberts, Bogris, Wiltjer, Τhompson.
ΑΕΚ (Sakota): James 11 (1), Green 6, Harris 17, Larentzakis 6 (2), Hunter 15, Punter 14 (2), Xanthopoulos 3 (1), Sakota 8, Vassilopoulos, Mavroeidis 4, Kavvadas 4.
"We weren't good throughout"The Olympiacos coach, Giannis Sfairopouls, stated: "Congratualations to AEK for winning the Cup. They played better for most part of the game. It was important to contain them with our defense, but when you receive 88 points, it's hard to win. We have had some chances to win the game at the end, but some hasty actions, some bad finishes did not allow us to take the lead and keep it. We weren't consistently good". For the atmosphere the students that watched the game, he commented: "It was a beautiful atmosphere, I wish these kids become the future basketball fans".