AEK seize early lead in derby playoff
FIBA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - LAST 16 (LEG 1)
| PAOK | 75 - 84 | AEK |
|---|---|---|
| (11 - 30) (36 - 45) (46 - 65) (75 - 84) |
AEK have a healthy advantage following the first leg of their Basketball Champions League Round of 16 tie with PAOK thanks to an 84-75 win in Thessaloniki on Tuesday night…
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AEK have grabbed an early advantage in their Basketball Champions League Round of 16 tie with northern rivals PAOK after the Dikefale claimed an 84-75 win in Thessaloniki on Tuesday night.
Vince Hunter was at it again as he led AEK with 20 points and 12 rebounds for yet another Champions League double-double. Meanwhile, Dusan Sakota poured in 16 points off the bench and Howard Sant-Roos added 14 points on a strong shooting night for the Cuban.
PAOK were led by Antonis Koniaris’ 18-point effort, while Milenko Tepic played all but four minutes of the contest as the Serbian notched 15 points in the defeat.
An early 30-11 run from AEK powered the reigning champions to a commanding lead in the early going as PAOK faltered out of the gates.
An improved performance from PAOK in the second half could only cut AEK’s lead to eight points (45-37) by halftime, though any progress from the home side was washed away in the third quarter.
Yet another commanding stretch from AEK soon after halftime blew the game wide-open as the Athenians extended their lead back to double figures (65-47) thanks to a 20-10 run in the third quarter.
PAOK again clawed their way back into a single-digit deficit in the fourth quarter as the Dikefalos tou Vorra managed a 29-19 run to close out the game – ensuring Ilias Papatheodorou’s men still have a chance of salvaging the tie in the return leg in Athens next week.
Both sides will pause from their continental obligations at the weekend as PAOK face Kymis in the Basket League on the Saturday, shortly before AEK visit Holargos.
The return leg is scheduled to take place at AEK’s OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens on Wednesday, with PAOK aiming to cause an upset over their southern rivals.
