A Trophy Brought Back to the Court

The air inside the Peace and Friendship Stadium crackled with electricity long before the tip-off. The newly crowned European champions, Olympiacos, had business to settle against AEK Athens in the Greek Basket League semi-finals. But first, there was a parade. Owners Panayiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos wheeled the EuroLeague trophy onto the hardwood, raising a banner signaling their fourth continental crown. More than 13,000 fans erupted, their cheers drowning out any doubt about who held the momentum.

The Vezenkov Moment

Did they need a reminder? Absolutely not. But they got one anyway. Sasha Vezenkov, the Bulgarian star, didn't just play; he performed. In just 20 minutes, he poured in 13 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished three assists. The highlight? A pure, unguardable jumper from mid-range near the end of the first quarter that swung the score to 26-19. It was a shot that sent the crowd into a frenzy, cementing his status as the game's MVP. He added two blocks and two steals, a complete defensive presence that complemented his offensive flair.

Seizing the Series Lead

The rest of the game was a formality. Coach Giorgos Barcocas' squad never let AEK breathe. Alex Peters led the scoring charge with 17 points, while Donta Hol chipped in 13. Olympiacos cruised to a 94-77 victory, taking a commanding 1-0 lead in the series. Elsewhere, Panathinaikos survived a scare against PAOK, winning 114-102 in overtime thanks to Matyas Lesor's 21 points. The stage is set, but Olympiacos looks unstoppable.