AEK fought hard despite significant absences, but suffered a 95-87 loss to CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea and was eliminated from the Basketball Champions League qualifiers.
The Larnaca team took the court with limited options, with its rotation effectively restricted to eight players, but remained competitive and never gave up, even when the Romanian team built a significant lead. Following its elimination from the BCL, Petrolina AEK will continue its European campaign in the regular season of the FIBA Europe Cup.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The “yellow-and-greens” actually got off to a great start and took a 7-0 lead, but Oradea’s response was immediate. The Romanians found their rhythm mainly through perimeter shooting, took the lead, and gradually pulled away, closing out the first quarter at 31-18.
AEK didn’t let the game get any further out of hand. They improved their defense in the second quarter and began to close the gap, with Miles Tate, Giorgos Varsos, and Javious McKinnis providing solutions on offense. The deficit dropped to single digits, and the first half ended with Orandea leading 44-37.
In the third quarter, Orandea once again capitalized on its excellent shooting from beyond the 6.75-meter line and extended its lead. The home team reached 59-46 and later 72-59, before ending the quarter at 76-61.
Despite the difficult situation they found themselves in, Petrolina AEK did not give up on the game. In the final quarter, they stepped up their defensive intensity, applied full-court pressure, and gradually began to chip away at the deficit.
Varsos hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 78-69, and then Pavlidis, Tate, Darham, and McKinnis kept AEK in contention. With 2:22 remaining, McKinney cut the deficit to 90-85 and gave the Cypriot champions real hope once again.
In the crucial final two minutes, however, Orandea found the answers it needed. Dan Akin made his free throws, and George Blay Voinescu hit a decisive three-pointer to make it 95-85, with the final score of 95-87 taking shape just before the end.
A key factor in the game was Oradea’s astonishing accuracy from beyond the arc. The Romanian team finished the game with 21 of 42 three-pointers, a 50% shooting percentage, while also dishing out 24 assists. AEK made 9 of 23 three-pointers and 20 of 24 free throws, but lost the rebounding battle 42-34.
Petrolina AEK’s leading scorer was Miles Tate with 21 points, while Anthony Durham added 17. George Varsos and Javious McKinnis each scored 14 points, with the latter also grabbing 12 rebounds. For Oradea, Malik Osborn scored 21 points, David Nichols 19, and Chris Richard 18.
Quarter scores: 31-18, 44-37, 76-61, 95-87.
Petrolina AEK (Christos Leivadiotis): Pavlidis 9 (1), Varsos 14 (4), Darham 17 (1), Tate 21 (1), Dis 2, Markou 3 (1), McKinnis 14, Hunt 7 (1).
CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea (Mikko Riipinen): Richard 18 (5), Jefferson 8 (2), Fometescu 0, Guerrier 7 (1), Osborne 21 (4), Nichols 19 (6), Blaj-Voinescu 3 (1), Hume 9 (2), Tork 0, Nastrut 0, Akin 10.
