The Final-8 of the basketball cup ended in the best possible way. After a rather dull three days, the highly anticipated final between the two eternal rivals turned into an exciting game, decided in the final moments and small details, with Panathinaikos celebrating their victory over Olympiacos.

While it may not have been the highest-quality game we’ve seen from the two teams, it was an intense battle where both teams fought tooth and nail for the title, earning praise from the Greek basketball legend, Nikos Galis, who handed the cup to Panathinaikos’ captain (and MVP) Kostas Sloukas.

“It was a beautiful game, in a great atmosphere, and in the end, Panathinaikos won. I believe that’s how a final should be, like a celebration. The atmosphere was amazing, it reminded me of those great finals we used to have, like Aris vs. PAOK,” said the “gangster” of Greek basketball.

Sloukas: “A Final Worthy of Both Teams”

One of the key players for Panathinaikos was Kostas Sloukas, who was named MVP. The Greek star thanked Panathinaikos for their support throughout the season, despite battling several injuries.

“Congratulations to the entire Panathinaikos organization. It was a tough game, worthy of both teams. Olympiacos is the best team in Europe right now. Despite the absences, both teams fought hard. The momentum seemed to be with Olympiacos, but with two great defensive plays by Kendrick (Nunn), we took it… It was a big final, worthy of both teams,” said Sloukas about the final, continuing to reflect on the emotional ups and downs in the last two minutes.

“There was passion from both teams… The ball wasn’t going in easily, so little details decided the game, and of course, the personalities of the players on both teams. A great success for us, and a good sign for what’s to come.”

In the first half, when things weren’t going as Panathinaikos had hoped, Sloukas said: “At halftime, we discussed and realized we hadn’t made good choices. We were playing too statically, so we talked about what to change, and we did it. Juancho hit two three-pointers, Kendrick showed his class, and we were able to claim the title.”

A Never-Ending Drive
Sloukas was asked about how it feels like he “switches gears” after January every season:
“There’s a lot of talk about how I hit a switch in January. The truth is, I had a tough summer, as I couldn’t train for two months. But the team supported me, Lorenzo (Brown) played a lot early, and there’s trust. We’ve had significant absences in the big men, but now we’ll take some rest and focus on the crucial game against Villeurbanne.”

The Thrilling Final: Panathinaikos 79-75 Olympiacos

Panathinaikos and Olympiacos met for the 12th time in history in a Cup final, with Panathinaikos securing their 21st title in this competition after a game that came down to the wire. This win ended Olympiacos’ streak of three consecutive Cup titles.

Kostas Sloukas proved once again why he’s the leader of Panathinaikos, as he sparked the team’s comeback. Kendrick Nunn scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, also making his mark on the game.

The game started nervously, with both teams missing easy shots. Panathinaikos began strong, but Olympiacos responded, gradually taking control with great defense by Sasha Vezenkov (7 points in the 1st quarter). The game stayed tight, and at the end of the first quarter, Olympiacos led 21-16.

In the second quarter, Panathinaikos started strong again and even took the lead, but Olympiacos answered back with solid defense. At halftime, Olympiacos was ahead 34-30. Despite a poor shooting performance from the three-point line (1/14), Panathinaikos stayed close by shooting well inside (10/17 on two-pointers) and hitting all 7 of their free throws.

In the second half, Olympiacos extended their lead to 37-30 early, but Panathinaikos fought back with an 8-0 run, led by Sloukas and Juancho Hernangomez. By the end of the third quarter, Panathinaikos led 59-55.

In the final period, Kendrick Nunn came alive, pushing Panathinaikos to a 71-64 lead with consecutive points. But Olympiacos responded with an 11-0 run, taking the lead 75-71 with just under two minutes remaining.

However, Panathinaikos quickly regained the lead with a 6-0 run, highlighted by two free throws from Sloukas and key buckets by Nunn and Grant. The greens led 77-75 with 50 seconds remaining, and from there, they sealed the game and claimed the trophy.

THE MOMENT THE GAME TURNED: The turning point came when Panathinaikos responded to an 11-0 run by Olympiacos with a 6-0 run of their own, reclaiming the lead and finishing strong.

MVP: Kostas Sloukas was outstanding in this crucial game, recording 17 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and hitting clutch shots in the third quarter.

KEY PLAYERS IN THE WIN: Juancho Hernangomez was solid on both ends with 11 points and 17 rebounds, while Kendrick Nunn stepped up when it mattered most.

WHAT’S NEXT: Panathinaikos will travel to Lyon to face Villeurbanne on February 28th, while Olympiacos will play Virtus in Bologna on the same day.

NEEDED MORE FROM: Alec Peters, who only managed 3 points in 10:25 minutes.

FELL SHORT IN PERFORMANCE: Sasha Vezenkov, who finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds.

STAT OF THE GAME: Panathinaikos’ 13/14 free throws compared to Olympiacos’ 7/16.

Quarter Scores: 16-21, 30-34, 59-55, 79-75.