By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
AEK Athens became the third participant in the Final Four of the Basketball Champions League by defeating Joventut in the third game of their Quarterfinal series with a score of 72-67.
After Rytas and Unicaja, AEK overcame Joventut in three thrilling games, which means the Final Four in Badalona will proceed without its host team.
The top scorer for the winning team was Frank Bartley with 16 points, RaiQuan Gray added 15 points and eight rebounds, Greg Brown scored 11, while James Nunnally finished with 10. On the other side, Jabari Parker was outstanding with 22 points and seven rebounds, Ricky Rubio added 17, and Cameron Hunt ended the game with 12.
The third game of the series also ended with a victory for the home team, and in the end, AEK defended their home-court advantage and advanced to the Final Four.
The Greeks started the game much better, already having a double-digit lead in the first quarter (19-8), but Joventut came back to lead at halftime (34-40). The Spaniards had an eight-point lead at one point, but AEK came back into the game and added drama. In the end, a three-pointer by Bartley and points by Katsivelis gave AEK a three-point lead (70-67). On the other side, Rubio lost the ball, and Nunnally sealed the final score of 72-67 from the free-throw line.
In the Final Four, AEK will play against Unicaja, with the match scheduled for May 7th.
Postgame press conference: