MUNICH (Germany) - This season's FIBA Europe Cup Finals will have a new name etched on the trophy after two astonishing Semi-Final second leg encounters.
Bilbao Basket overcame the odds again to become the first Spanish side to reach the Finals at the expense of JDA Bourgogne Dijon, while Greek side PAOK mateco needed overtime to oust Cholet Basket in a remarkable contest.
The FIBA Europe Cup Finals commence on Wednesday, April 16 with the return leg taking place on Wednesday, April 23.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Frank Bartley (PAOK mateco) - 22 Points: Frank Bartley (PAOK mateco) - 29 Rebounds: Jakob Forrester (PAOK mateco) - 8 Assists: Melwin Pantzar (Bilbao Basket) - 7 Steals: Melwin Pantzar (Bilbao Basket) / Dimitrios Katsivelis (PAOK mateco) - 3 Blocks: Bassala Bagayoko (Bilbao Basket) - 4
PAOK sneak away with a spot in the Finals
PAOK mateco stunned Cholet Basket 90-88 after overtime and 178-177 on aggregate as missed free throws with 12 seconds left from Cleveland Melvin ultimately sent them packing.
Frank Bartley went 8-for-13 from three-point land for a game-high 29 points, with Shavar Reynolds and Cedric Henderson Jr. both hitting 10 points for the winners. Cleveland Melvin and Gerald Ayayi had 17 for Cholet.
In front of a vocal home crowd at La Meilleraie, PAOK muted the crowd within three minutes of the opening period with solid offensive execution. They led by as many as 14 in the first half before Cholet roared back to narrow the gap to 43-40 at the break.
It wasn't long before Cholet established control and, in devastating fashion, with showtime throw-downs, highlighted by Jamuni McNeace as the home side took back the lead they had lost in the first half.
But as the game wore on, PAOK fought back, and they got their rewards in regulation. A three-pointer from Bartley on the fourth-quarter buzzer tied the game on aggregate, taking the contest to an extra five minutes.
With nothing to separate the two teams, PAOK took a one-point lead overall through a pair of shots at the stripe from Jakob Forrester. Melvin had his chance to do the same with 12 ticks left for the hosts, but was unable to do so in a breathless overtime period.
Bilbao dig deep to overcome 19-point deficit and reach Finals
Bilbao Basket repeated history again; erasing a 19-point deficit late on to beat JDA Bourgogne Dijon 97-68 on the night and 155-145 on aggregate to snatch a spot in the FIBA Europe Cup Final.
Just like they did against Legia Warszawa last season in the Quarter-Finals, Bilbao needed to overturn a big double-digit deficit and for long periods, it looked like the odds were firmly against them until a 41-16 ambush turned it in their favor.
Zoran Dragic and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led Bilbao with 19 points in an unforgettable final ten minutes that will go down as one of the best, if not the best, comebacks in the competition's history. Markis McDuffie amassed 18 for Dijon.
The hosts led from tip to the final buzzer, taking a double-digit lead in the early exchanges of the second quarter, but at the time could not wear down a stubborn Dijon defense that played smart basketball throughout.
That intelligent play continued throughout the second half until the latter stages of the fourth quarter when Bilbao made a run. The Spaniards incredibly narrowed the aggregate scoreline to a single point with 2:14 remaining, thanks to a jumper from Thijs De Ridder.
From there, Bilbao's momentum grew, and Dijon were mere spectators in a fourth-quarter show that ended with Bilbao securing their first FIBA Europe Cup Final.
Results
Bilbao Basket 97-68 JDA Bourgogne Dijon (Bilbao win 155-145 on aggregate) Cholet Basket 88-90 PAOK mateco (PAOK win 178-177 on aggregate)
FIBA