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abr 08 2026MURCIA — UCAM Murcia fell to PAOK 89-85 in the second leg of the FIBA Europe Cup semifinals, a result that eliminates the Murcia team from the final after failing to overcome the first-leg deficit (79-73 in Greece). Despite Travis DeJulius's offensive display with 41 points, the team coached by Sito Alonso could not complete the comeback against a rival that prevailed again in the overall series.
The game started with an atmosphere of high tension at the Palacio de los Deportes de Murcia, practically full to push UCAM Murcia in its attempt to overcome the six-point deficit from the first matchup. The home team came out with intensity, although PAOK Salónica responded from the start with strong physical presence, especially in the paint.
In the opening minutes, UCAM Murcia had difficulty finding consistency from the field, but managed to stay in the game thanks to the offensive talent of Travis DeJulius and the playmaking of Sant-Roos, which allowed the Murcia team to close the first quarter with a slight advantage (20-19).
In the second quarter, the Greek team increased its defensive aggression and continued punishing near the basket. However, UCAM Murcia found solutions in the paint with James Cate, who regained offensive prominence. Still, the true offensive engine remained DeJulius, who again took on responsibilities on the perimeter.
The American point guard had a brilliant stretch before halftime, drawing fouls and scoring from beyond the arc. A three-pointer by DeJulius at the buzzer allowed UCAM Murcia to go into halftime with a lead (47-40), keeping hopes alive in this FIBA Europe Cup semifinal.
After the break, the game changed dynamics. PAOK reacted quickly and in just two minutes managed to cut the deficit. UCAM Murcia then suffered an offensive drought that allowed the visitors to close in on the scoreboard.
The Murcia team found some relief with the interior actions of Cacok and Jonah, which helped regain control of the game. However, the third quarter ended with maximum equality (63-60), leaving everything open for the final stretch.
In the last quarter, DeJulius appeared again, delivering an extraordinary performance. The American shooting guard reached 38 points midway through the quarter and continued punishing the Greek defense from all positions to keep UCAM Murcia in the series.
Despite the offensive effort of the home team, PAOK again imposed its physical superiority in the paint and on the boards in the decisive moments. The Greeks managed to take the lead on the scoreboard and manage the final moments of the game to secure the 89-85 victory, confirming their qualification for the FIBA Europe Cup final.
On an individual level, Travis DeJulius was the standout performer with 41 points, a historic performance that, however, was not enough to change the fate of the series. The Greek team knew how to capitalize on its interior dominance and rebounding strength to secure passage to the final.
With this defeat, UCAM Murcia falls short of the FIBA Europe Cup final, while PAOK Salónica advances to the final round of the European tournament after prevailing in both semifinal matchups.
