AEK Athens continued an ongoing Basketball Champions League trend after they overcame Monaco 100-94 to win this season’s title at the OAKA.
As the second Basketball Champions League season draws to a close, AEK Athens got the opportunity to lift FIBA’s flagship club championship in front of its fanatical supporters, much like the inaugural champions Tenerife did in last year’s Final Four. AEK Athens made it two Champions League wins for the Final Four hosts.
The high-scoring thriller was everything that a final should be and when it needed a player to stand out – that very person was Delroy James – who came up with a key block on a three-point attempt by Monaco’s DJ Cooper with 22 seconds left with the score at 97-94, then when the French side came up with the ball again, James came up with a key steal and hit the game-winning free throws to send the home fans into raptures.
James finished with 13 points as he supported Mike Green, who led the way for the newly crowned champions with 19 as he picked up the Final Four MVP.
“Just want to thank my teammates and the coaches, for having patience with me after my performance on Friday,” Green said. “And for giving me another chance to perform on this stage. It worked out for everybody.”
The Basketball Champions League season MVP Manny Harris only managed nine points on 4/13 shooting. However, he pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out four assists to play his part in other areas of the floor.
AEK’s win also hands Greece a continental trophy this season with neither Panathinaikos or Olympiacos able to reach the EuroLeague Final Four at the end of the month.
Ukrainian Sergii Gladyr led Monaco with 18 points as they finish their second Basketball Champions League season in the Final Four, but fall short again.
