By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
AEK fans called their team the “Queen” of Greek sports and their majesty has a fitting crown after winning the Intercontinental Cup, in Rio, Brazil.
AEK beat Flamengo 86-70 behind 22 points by Jordan Theodore as the defending Basketball Champions League winners dominated the game.
Lithuanian Jonas Maciulis added 17 points, as AEK jumped to a 42-33 halftime lead and never looked back. In total, five players of the winners scored in double digits.
With a 9-0 streak in the first three minutes of the third quarter, Flamengo reappeared in the game, closing in 47-42 with a three-pointer by Marquinhos.
Still, Maciulis responded with another score from the three-point area, and then a steal by Delroy James and two points by Giannoulis Larentzakis established another considerable distance of 10 (54-44).
Former NBA player Anderson Varejao with 21 points did his best for Flamengo, but it was not enough. The hosts made in total 20 turnovers, while AEK had only six.
AEK became the third Greek team to win the Intercontinental Cup after Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.
However, AEK is also the first Greek team to win a major European basketball trophy, back in 1968 when they won the European Cup winners’ cup.
Photo credit: FIBA