Rytas Vilnius Wins Basketball Champions League Title in Badalona, Defeats AEK Athens in Overtime (86-92)

Rytas Vilnius claimed the Basketball Champions League championship after defeating AEK Athens 86-92 in overtime in a thrilling final at the Olímpic de Badalona. Head coach Giedrius Zibenas' team showed resilience, mounting a spectacular fourth-quarter and overtime comeback to secure the title. Simonis Lukosius (23 points) emerged as the hero, going 7-of-10 from three-point range to lead the Lithuanian champions. AEK will remember this game for a long time. It was a final they had practically won, but it slipped away against the drive and resilience of Vilnius. Veteran James Nunnally's 23 points were not enough for the Greeks.

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What a beautiful game basketball is! For anyone who watched the first three quarters of this game, they could never have imagined the ending that unfolded at the Olímpic. A Rytas team that never stopped believing and, thanks to a dominant final quarter (17-35), was able to compete in overtime and claim the title.

The first basket of the final came from Speedy Smith for the Lithuanians, quickly answered by a three-pointer from Frank Bartley for AEK. It was clear we were going to have fun in this BCL final.

AEK came out with everything, determined to establish control from the start. A three-pointer from Charalampopoulos set off alarms in the Lithuanian camp (10-4, minute 4). Giedrius Zibenas was forced to call a timeout. The Greek physicality was dominating this opening stretch.

Rytas Vilnius had a brief response (10-8), but Frank Bartley quickly answered back (10 points). The American, in MVP mode, was scoring at will and AEK pulled away on the scoreboard again. Vilnius' one-of-ten shooting from beyond the arc was hurting them badly. At the end of the first quarter, a clear 25-15 lead for the Greeks. Either Rytas matched their physicality or they were going to have real problems.

AEK was in steamroller mode. If Bartley led the way in the first quarter, the baton was picked up by a battle-hardened veteran like James Nunnally. Eight consecutive points from Nunnally (11 points) gave Athens their largest lead (34-19, minute 12).

The rest of the second quarter was filled with mistakes from both teams. Rytas failed to capitalize on Greek misses and went into halftime with plenty of work to do. Their two-of-seventeen shooting from three-point range was bad news for the Lithuanians. Two free throws from Nunnally (13 points) left the score at 42-25 for AEK. The Athenians dominated the rebounding battle 26-19.

After halftime, Rytas Vilnius came out with the mission of extending the game against AEK. With three-pointers from Smith (8 points) and Sargiunis, they cut the deficit (46-35, minute 23). But it was a mirage. James Nunnally put on his MVP jersey and with 18 points left the Lithuanians on the brink of disaster (55-35, minute 26).

The Lithuanian head coach tried everything, but couldn't find the answer and AEK remained in control of the game. They won this third quarter and were getting closer to the title with each passing minute (63-45, minute 30).

Vilnius' start to the final quarter was a ray of hope. Five consecutive points from the previously invisible Jerrick Harding (6 points) added some excitement to the final (65-53, minute 32).

The level of play from both teams in these minutes was excellent, worthy of a final. Three-pointers everywhere, and-ones… Definitely a great spectacle. After three free throws made by Speedy Smith (11 points), Rytas cut it to nine (74-65, minute 34). AEK looked tired and the game seemed to be wearing on them.

A three-pointer from Ignas Sargiunis added more spice to the final. Rytas got within five (75-70, minute 36) with almost four minutes remaining. The Lithuanian fans made their presence felt at the Olímpic de Badalona.

AEK had run out of gas. Another three-pointer from Lukosius (17 points) and a jump shot from Harding (16 points) put the Greek team against the ropes (78-77), with just 24 seconds left to play.

This was far from decided. Simonis Lukosius (20 points) became a hero and hit another three-pointer, sending the game to overtime. Unbelievable (80-80, minute 40).

The momentum of the game had completely shifted. Five consecutive points from Arturas Gudaitis and another three-pointer from Lukosius (23 points), who was in a state of grace, left AEK mortally wounded as they watched a final they thought they had won slip away (80-88, minute 41).

AEK was completely out of the game. The energy and intensity of Rytas Vilnius had taken them out of the contest. Zibenas' team played brilliantly in the final moments and claimed the title 86-92.