By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
ATHENS – A full calendar year and one week after its first-ever European club competition game and Basketball Champions League debut, Hereda San Pablo Burgos defeats AEK, 85-74, to conquer first place in the Final Eight held in Athens, Greece.
Last time at a BCL final stage, Vitor Benite was on the wrong side of the Final Four semifinal. From UCAM Murcia to Burgos, he marked his revenge with 11 points.
Thad McFadden went for a game-high 18 points, also grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists. His 22 efficiency rating was a game-high as well and largely earned him the Final Eight MVP award.
Omar Cook sank four threes powering a 35-12 sprint in the second quarter. An 18-3 run to end the period generated a 13-point lead for the Spanish club coached by Joan Penarroya. A fourth-quarter dagger pushed the 38-year-old guard to 15 points.
“It was an amazing victory for us,” noted Penarroya in the post-game press conference, “The players are legends in Burgos.”
“This is big, not only for us but for the supporters. Now everybody knows Burgos,” added McFadden.
Miguel Salvo threw in 12 points and Alex Renfroe 11 of his own. Dejan Kravic was held to one point but boarded 11 out of his side’s 41 rebounds.
Leading the AEK rally bid was Tyrese Rice with a team-high 17 points. Ilias Papatheodorou paired him with Keith Langford in large stretches of the second half, but brief outbursts did not budge Burgos from its commanding position.
“We never got it together mentally after the second quarter,” admitted Nikos Zisis following his four points in ten minutes, “We lost our confidence in both offense and defense.”
Scrambling for a comeback, the Queen struggled in the paint without experienced center Marcus Slaughter. The 35-year-old big exited injured midway through the third quarter but returned to start the fourth and finished with 8 points.
Milwaukee Bucks star and two-times NBA MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo watched Sunday’s contest courtside.
Watch the post-game press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League