PAOK is in the FIBA Europe Cup Final for the second consecutive year! With a tremendous performance in a tough away game against a very strong opponent, PAOK stood firm in Spain, protected the 6-point advantage from the first game and, despite an 89–85 loss to UCAM Murcia, secured qualification for the finals.
There, PAOK will face Surne Bilbao Basket once again, just like last year.
April 22: First game in Thessaloniki
April 29: Second leg in Bilbao
Game recap
Shortly after the midway point of the first quarter, PAOK led 9–13, but the hosts closed the period ahead 20–19. The game remained tightly contested, with Tyree and Moore scoring 11 points each, while De Julius dominated for Murcia, finishing the first half with 19 points and hitting a buzzer-beater three-pointer to make it 47–40.
PAOK opened the second half with a 0–6 run, all scored by Omoruyi, cutting the deficit to 47–46 (22:40). Murcia responded, extending their lead to 60–51, but PAOK fought back again, reducing it to 63–60 with a three-pointer by Melvin at the end of the third quarter.
A 0–7 run gave PAOK the lead again (63–67), but Murcia answered with a powerful 17–2 run, led by De Julius, who finished with 41 points, pushing the score to 80–69.
PAOK refused to give up. With 5 straight points from Tyree, they cut the deficit to 80–74, and later to 83–80, just over two minutes before the end. With the score at 85–80, Melvin scored a crucial basket to make it 85–83.
PAOK managed the closing moments perfectly, kept the aggregate advantage, and secured a historic qualification to the final.
Scoring by quarters: 20–19, 47–40, 63–60, 89–85
UCAM Murcia: Cacok 15, Forrest 4 (1), De Julius 41 (4), Sant-Roos 3, Radebaugh 13 (3), Falk, Cate 6, Martin 7 (1), Nakic
PAOK: Allen 7, Melvin 12 (2), Tyree 29 (2), Koniaris 2, Omoruyi 10, Persidis, Beverley 7 (1), Fillios, Moore 15 (1), Dimsa 3 (1)