AEK crowned Greek Cup champions in thrilling final
GREEK BASKETBALL CUP - FINAL
In Heraklion, AEK defeated Promitheas 61-57 in a pulsating final of the Greek Cup, winning the competition for the fifth time in history.
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Earlier in the competition, EuroCup participants Promitheas had defeated Panathinaikos in Patras on their way to the grand final, but they came up short by four points against AEK in a tight, tense encounter on neutral territory in Heraklion. AEK, hoisting the Greek Cup for the fifth time in history, had also won the tournament in the 2017/2018 campaign.
Kendrick Ray, scoring 16 points, took a leading role for the Enosi, while the legendary Nikos Zisis registered 11 points and five rebounds. Leonidas Kaselakis scored 15 points for Promitheas.
THE MATCH
The first period set the tone for the entire game.
Immediately, the two teams competed at the same level, with Promitheas slightly edging the first quarter 13-12.
Nevertheless, AEK weren’t about to let the opponents create a solid advantage, and the Kitrinomavri subsequently took the second stanza by four points to move into the lead.
A lead which was extended by a further two points in the third quarter.
Predictably, the match went down to the wire, and the score was equal at 51-51 with three minutes remaining after Promitheas had embarked on a 8-0 run.
Ray conjured up the goods for AEK, though.
Scoring five successive points, he put AEK in the box seat, and the Athens-based club saw out the game in the concluding plays to become champions.
