The cup winner for the 2022-2023 season is celebrated by Petrolina AEK Larnaca which was the winner of the final against Anorthosis Ammohostou, which took place in the “T. Papadopoulos-Eleftheria” Stadium.
The team from Larnaca beat Anorthosis Ammohostou, which attended the final for the first time in her history, with 88-72.
MVP of the game was Taveion Hollingsworth (188-G-1999, college: WKU) (22 points, 6/10 FT, 5/8 2PM, 2/3 3PM, 9 REB).
Petrolina AEK made a strong start, especially in the first 5 minutes, were was quite accurate, creating several problems in the defense of Anorthosis Ammohostou. The fast pace imposed by the Larnaca team had the result that the difference in their favor continued to rise, the value of which had reached +17 at 7′, a point in time at which the score reached 26-9. Taveion Hollingsworth kept giving points to AEK.
At the end of the 1st period, AEK led 31-16, while a big blow for Anorthosis Ammohostou was the forced withdrawal of Georgios Varsos (184-G-2000, agency: Octagon Europe) (5’18”) due to a shoulder injury.
At the beginning of the 2nd period, AEK increased the difference to +25 (35-18 at 11′). Although it was still quite early, the Larnaca team had gained a big difference, based on the time of the match, and things were already becoming quite difficult for Anorthosis Ammohostou, as at 17′, the difference had risen to 26 points ( 50-24). Tookie Brown (180-PG-1995, college: Georgia South, agency: Verus Management) and Roberto Mantovani (203-F-1994, college: RMU) gave AEK several points
In the final moments of the half, Anorthosis Ammohostou found some solutions, but AEK led 55-36.
The initial points of the 3rd period fluctuated at a slower pace, with AEK steadily maintaining a lead of around +20 and of course, as time passed, this favored them. At 24′, the score went to 62-39, always for the Larnaca team.
However, the Anorthosis Ammohostou team kept trying, even if things were difficult, but at 30′, AEK was ahead with 67-50.
At the beginning of the 4th period, Anorthosis Ammohostou was down to 69-56 and a little later, to 72-61. As in the 3rd period, so also in the 4th, its beginning fluctuated in a slow tempo.
However, nothing was over yet, as Anorthosis Ammohostou continued to fight, even if the timer was an ally for AEK. At 37′, the score went to 79-68 for AEK, who eventually won the game 88-72.
AEK was named cup winner for the 9th time in her history.
Anorthosis Ammohostou (Antonis Konstantinides (agency: BIG )): Georgios Varsos, Duda Sanadze (197-SG-1992, college: San Diego, agency: Octagon Europe) 25 (2), Davis 2, Zayd Muosa (199-G-2003, agency: Octagon Europe) 14 (2), Pauly Paulicap (203-F-1997, college: WVU) 7, Freeman 16, Rafail Eleftheriou (201-F-1994, college: FPU), Konstantinou, Notaridis, Tobazos 5 (1), Vyronos, Mavrommatis 3.
Petrolina AEK (Christophoros Livadiotis ): Taveion Hollingsworth 22 (2), Tookie Brown 20 (1), Andreas Sizopoulos (190-G-1983) 14 (1), Jesse Hunt (203-F-1997, college: EWU) 6, Roberto Mantovanis 13, Georgiou, Stylianou, Manolopoulos, Aristides Koronides (186-PG-1982), Iakovos Panteli (187-G-1985) 3, Brison Gresham (203-F/C-1998, college: Texas Southern) 10, Tsouloupas.
Tags : TAVEION HOLLINGSWORTH, PETROLINA AEK LARNACA, CYPRIOT BASKETBALL
