By Antonis Stroggilakis/ info@eurohoops.net
AEK defeated UCAM Murcia in a thriller in a packed OAKA in Athens and advanced to the Basketball Champions League Final, where the Greek team will face AS Monaco.
Dragan Sakota had a lot to say after AEK’s qualification to the BCL Final. “My players deserved the win. In the end, we had two turnovers that almost cost us. We played against a team that runs in transition, with off-screen movement, fights in the offensive glass, and has good balance. It was very difficult for us to adjust to this kind of game. We controlled most of the game. One more big success this year for us, and now we are looking to play against a better team in AS Monaco.”
When asked about the re-start of AEK, he said the following: “AEK has a great history, many championships, and successes in the past. It reminds me of 2002, the last time we won the Greek championship. It was a great opportunity for fans to come and watch this team succeed. It was great for the president and the board of AEK who have tried the last four years to make a new start to this franchise.”
Finally, he also commented on Xanthopoulos’ impressive game: “He helped us very much. Maybe Murcia was focused on Mike Green. He put in the effort, played defense and controlled the tempo, he was one of the most important players in the game.