Cancellieri: “What my players did is a masterpiece”
It was a great moment, a historic moment. And a huge victory for PAOK, which dominated Cholet 88-90 in the extension and took the qualification to the FIBA Europe Cup final. After 29 years, the Grand PAOK is again in the final of a European event and will claim the trophy in double finals against Spanish Bilbao.
The qualification in the final came in a unique way. Unparalleled. With an epic overturn in the second half, where they seemed to be lost and with an incredible three -pointer at the end of the match by the top player on the Frank Bartley! The American sent the game to the extension and there, the passion of the team and the world, it was not possible to lead to the qualification …
The game
PAOK came into the game with great concentration and confidence and took the complete control of the match very quickly. With Katsiveli's three-point lead, the difference went to 10 (7-17) for the first time and remained at these levels until the end of the quarter (16-27).
With an incredible Frank Bartley crescendo that achieved three consecutive three-pointers, PAOK first led 14 (20-34) and held that difference until the middle of the second period. The hosts increased the pressure, this brought quite a bit, the fouls and the shots were overwhelmingly in favor of Cholet, which gradually reduced the difference and with a 11-1 run in the final minutes of the half brought the score to 40-43.
The hosts first led 44-43 at the start of the second half, Reynolds with his first basket tied 48-48, PAOK led 48-49, but Cholet with a 15-0 run, escaped 63-49 in the 28th minute. With Bartley reaching 21 points, PAOK reduced to 9 (65-56) at the end of the third period.
PAOK's counterattack continued at the beginning of the fourth period and with a series of 1-12, our team again took the lead (66-67 at 33'30 '', the game gained wild beauty and had a shocking development to the end. Although the hosts escaped 80-76, our team did not leave the game and with a stunning three-point Frank Bartley at the end of the regular season, it was preceded by 80-81, equalizing the difference of one points with which he was defeated in Thessaloniki.
PAOK had tremendous psychology, had a great will, and had control over the extension, increased the difference in two points (88-90), as it needed to get the huge qualification in the final.
Top quarters: 16-27, 40-43, 65-56, 80-81 (Duration), 88-90
Cholet: Wheeler 1, Melvin 17 (4), Smith 6, De Sousa 8, McNeace 12, Ayayi 17 (1), Diawara 2, Ndow 10 (1), Campbell 15 (3).
PAOK: Grandison 8 (2), Henderson 10 (1), Upson 9, Forrester 7, Katsivelis 9 (2), Papadakis 2, Bartley 29 (8), Reynolds 10 (1), Kreuser 6 (2).
Cancellieri: “What my players did is a masterpiece”
PAOK coach Massimo Cancellieri said after the end of the match with Cholet and the team's historical qualification in the FIBA Europe Cup final…
“It was a shocking game and a stunning series, where both teams could get the qualification. Someone who saw the games would surely find it difficult to choose the team that should qualify, so I want to congratulate Cholet for the great work that we did. I dedicate this victory to my players, with all the respect for everyone. Since then we were in Antalya in the qualifiers with Cholet. I was already big, but these kids matured and what they did is a masterpiece. We all have to proud of this team, for those who played and those who didn't play. “
The Italian coach also referred to the presence of the world, the emotion he saw and the matches that follow with Bilbao… “One thing that makes me feel that I am lucky to be here, is the reaction of some historians to the club, who after qualifying for the final. I also believe that all our fans will not go to work for the next ten days, preparing the final.
