By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
AEK Athens became the second team to advance in the Basketball Champions League title game after beating UCAM Murcia in the second semifinal
The Greek club and Final Four hosts will face AS Monaco for the trophy after getting the close 77-75 win. With the score being 76-75, Clevin Hannah fouled Delroy James with seven seconds remaining. James made one of two free throws, Kevin Tumba got the rebound and passed the ball to Santiel Rojas.
Rojas and James collided, there was no call and the game ended with AEK getting the win. It was a close affair until early in the fourth period. With the score 58 – 58, Dimitris Mavroeidis made a lay-up and then Kevin Punter became the protagonist in a major sequence for his team, first dropping the 3-point bucket and then stealing the ball to slam in transition for the 63 – 56.
Captain Vitor Benite wasn’t eager to give up through and helped Murcia stayed alive. When Dusan Sakota scored for the 70 – 61, the Brazilian guard of Murcia scored consecutive jumpers to keep his team at a close distance. In the end, everything was decided on details.
Murcia came back from a 15-point deficit, they fell back with in the first half, 37 – 22 but they didn’t manage to close the game. They will play vs. MHP Riesen for the third place spot.
Manny Harris with 20 points was the top scorer of AEK, Kevin Punter added 16 and Sakota had 15. Benite finished the game with 19 points for Murcia and Clevin Hannan added 17.