By Kostas Paraskevopoulos/ info@eurohoops.net
In an exclusive interview with Eurohoops following a clinching win over Asisa Joventut at the SUNEL Arena on Wednesday, Frank Bartley IV opened up about the mental fortitude that has marked AEK’s 2025-26 season and their path to the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, Final Four.
Reflecting on the team’s ability to erase an eight-point deficit in the closing stages of Game 3 of a best-of-three series in the Quarterfinals, the 32-year-old noted that this resilience has become a trademark of the squad. His side claimed a 25th Champions League win when trailing entering the fourth quarter, at least 11 more than any other team in the competition’s history, including four this season.
“This is the beauty of our team,” explained Bartley. “When they were ahead, they could have easily pulled away. But we have great self-sacrifice. Obviously, the crowd gave us a big boost, especially in the fourth quarter. We made some big shots and finally won.”
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When asked about the influence of veteran coach Dragan Sakota in cultivating this never-say-die attitude, Bartley emphasized a collective alignment between the staff and the roster. He credited Sakota for selecting players who fit a specific philosophy, noting that the team remains composed even when facing double-digit deficits. “We don’t panic,” Bartley said. “We stay calm and find a way to win.”
That composure was most evident when Bartley drained the go-ahead three-pointer, making it over 15 points in 11 different BCL games, the most of any player this season, with the Greek club having won all their games when he has dropped 15 or more points. For the American guard, that high-pressure moment was exactly why he moved to Athens. “I came here to be in such a position. I’m not afraid of these moments. I want them,” he told Eurohoops. “My teammates trust me, and I have great confidence. I knew that was my moment.”
Looking ahead to the semifinal clash against Unicaja, the team that eliminated AEK last year, he dismissed the idea of being weighed down by the past. While acknowledging that the previous loss might serve as extra motivation for some, he stressed that this is a different season with a group of players who are simply ‘hungry to be there’. “We have a common goal,” he noted on the opponent is secondary to the mission. “We need to get two more wins.”
Finally, the Louisiana native touched on the unique energy of the Queen’s supporters. Despite his experience playing in intense environments with PAOK last year, he admitted that the atmosphere at the SUNEL Arena was on a different level.
“Tonight was like no other,” he remarked. “Especially at the end, the atmosphere was incredible.”
Regarding AEK’s chances of lifting the BCL trophy in Badalona, Bartley was unequivocal. “That’s why I came here,” he stressed. “We have the right players and the right mentality, so definitely.”
This was the 99th team win, with the Greek outfit now one victory away from becoming the second team in league history to reach 100.