The Larnaca team beat Keravnos 91-79 in the semi-final
Petrolina AEK was the winner of the second semi-final for the Final-4 of the cup, OPAP Basket League, after its victory over Keravnos in the game that took place at 'T. Papadopoulos-Eleftheria”, with 91-79.
In the final, the Larnaca team will face Anorthosis, which earlier today had beaten Apollon.
It turned out to be an exciting game, with the winner managing the lead early in the 2nd period and despite losing their international ace, Andreas Christodoulou, to injury.
A highlight for the winning side was Hollingsworth (28 points, 6/9 shots, 11/17 2-pointers, 0/2 3-pointers, 14 rebounds)
4-0 for AEK, the game started, but then the Lightning overtook with 7-4 and a little later with 18-11. The red and yellow team found more solutions at these points in time, with their main weapon being the strong defense they presented.
But when the timer showed 7`01“, an unfortunate moment came, first for the player himself and then for his team AEK and the reason is for our international ace, Andreas Christodoulou who injured his leg, in a claim the ball and left supported, but also applauded by the whole stadium…
At that point, the score was 18-11 for Keravnos, but with an 11-3 run, AEK overtook in the end of the 1st period with 22-21.
AEK continued to move better early in the 2nd period, causing problems for the opposing defense. With “spikes” from its two Americans, Brown and Hollingsworth, it took a 30-24 lead at 13'.
Finding regional solutions afterwards, Keravnos equalized at 33 points, but shortly after, AEK took the lead with +7 (40-33). The game was developing at a fast pace, with the Larnaca team constantly finding solutions, while Keravnos remained close to the score, thanks to Pasialis' scoring.
At the end of the half, AEK led with 46-43.
The fast pace continued in the early stages of the 3rd period, but with AEK always holding a steady lead, showing that the fast pace was helping them. At the same time, the Keravnos team was trying to get closer, finding scoring solutions, but shortly before the end of the 3rd period and for the first time in the game, the difference exceeded 10 points, when in the 29', AEK led 66-55, while at 30`, they were ahead with 66-57.
The 4th period was awaited with great interest, where both teams would give everything to qualify for the final.
AEK led 73-63 at 33`, at the time when Keravnos was losing with 5 fouls. Kroubali, while shortly after, the difference rose to +14, always for the Larnaca team (77-63), which now also had the timer as an ally…
However, Keravnos made one last attempt to to reach the overthrow, no matter how difficult it was to imagine such a thing. However, in the 37', the red and yellow team reduced to 82-72, but shortly after and when the score went to 88-72, basically everything was decided there with AEK advancing to the final, winning the game with 91-79.
DECALEPTA: 22-21, 46-43, 66-57, 91-79.
Petrolina AEK (Christophoros Livadiotis): Hollingsworth 28, Brown 22, Sizopoulos 9 (3), Hunt 13 ( 2). Thomas 14 (2), Krubally 4, Mishula 8 (2), Pasialis 8, Gonatas, Maragos.
