Like a sheep for slaughter. There are many clichés that can describe what AEK experienced in Game 3 of the Basketball Champions League Playoffs against Hapoel Jerusalem, where they suffered a heavy 91-51 loss and were eliminated from the Final Four.

AEK knew April 19 was going to be a difficult one after the pathetic incidents in Game 2 in Ano Liosia that entailed their punishment. The Israelis have not exactly concealed their intentions to retaliate. The (very) early 3am awakening of some of the expedition members to sparklers at the team hotel was a… prologue to what followed.

The reception at Hapoel headquarters – where there were no security measures and the “Union” bank was… 2 meters from the Israeli fans – the same. The time-outs that took place in the parquet were another setting that clearly described the situation. When referees allow time-outs inside the field for safety reasons, it becomes clear that something is wrong.

On the other hand, AEK never got into the game’s mindset in Game 3. In the week after Game 2, Hapoel rallied and demoralized “Enos”. Israel’s hot seat and the power it bestowed on its players in every respect tipped the scales in favor of the home team early on. It would take an epic performance from AEK to qualify, probably better than the – many – good nights they’ve had in Europe this year. This performance did not come and qualification was lost. But in reality the qualification was lost in the last 15 days.

In game 1 and 2 all hope for game 3 was lost

There’s a rule—not exactly unwritten—in playoff series: the underdog in a series must “steal” the qualifier. He must put the opponent to sleep, walk without a drumbeat with his head down, and earn qualification by smashing the favorite’s house, especially in a best-of-3 series where the winner is determined by the two wins. AEK missed the big chance in Game 1 and lost all hope of qualifying with the way they won Game 2.

In the first game of the series, “Union” came back from -22. However, in the fourth third, when the game was tied, he didn’t have the focus to steal the match. The bad decisions of the Regionals, the bad night of Lemar, Oriola, the mistakes in the rotation (like the fact that Papadakis was forgotten on the bench, participating in a game that AEK lost with 9 in 9 minutes, an incredible + 11 had points) cost them In fact, this was the big chance for the “yellow-blacks”. If they had fired a shot or two in the 4th period, the jaded Israelis would have gone cold, “Union” would have won and the series would have been different.

AEK still had hopes of qualifying. Diminished – because he could no longer catch the Israelis sleeping – but he had hope. He played beautiful basketball in Game 2. He got a well-deserved victory. But the events that took place woke up the Israelis once and for all. For a week, Israel’s media set the mood – and did well, considering what they were going through – by waking up their world. AEK was no longer a team that humbly threatened Hapoel with expulsion. Now AEK was Hapoel’s enemy, the one who was endangering the Israeli fans. The rally was given.

In Game 1, AEK traveled on a charter flight with around 50-100 of their fans and all the players had their families with them to relax. For Game 3, AEK couldn’t even find tickets at first, traveling incognito for security reasons and having to qualify in a hell of a stadium where everyone was clamoring for… their head. Not exactly ideal conditions for a team to “steal” a game.

AEK’s European future

AEK’s commitments aren’t over yet, they still have the Basket League where they have to play Peristeri bwin at home disadvantage in the first round of the playoffs to return to the top four. Logically, however, the “Union” are already thinking about the next steps in view of the 2023/24 season and – above all – their European future, which has become bleaker after the BCL’s decision to punish them with a ban from their headquarters is for the entire next season year.

AEK will certainly appeal to CAS in hopes of reducing this financially devastating penalty to some extent. Revenues from tickets and sponsorship deals are in absolute correlation with AEK’s European course. The retention of this penalty will be a major blow, which will lead the “yellow-blacks” back to the two years of the corona virus, when the closed stadiums caused enormous revenue shortfalls, which led to the well-known financial problems and the increase in bans.

AEK are in dire straits as Makis Angelopoulos, for his part, has been asked to draw up a financial plan for next season to cover the lost revenue that would balance the budget. At the same time, it is logical that on his part there is disappointment about what was done this year by the fans of the team, who also harmed the “Union” and him financially.

During the Makis Angelopoulos era, the AEK brand regained its reputation. No one doubts that the ‘yellow and black’ have been hit by the suspension adventures of the last two years, but this season the balance seemed to be starting to strike. At the competitive level, the season is already a success, with AEK reaching the Final Four while eliminating multi-budget teams in the meantime. However, both the Rezzo Emilia incident – which resulted in a three-game ban – and the Hapoel Jerusalem incident – which resulted in next season’s suspension – set AEK back badly. The apparently restored balance is probably upset.

At the given moment, it is reasonable to think a lot at AEK. The EuroCup move scenario seems extreme given that Makis Angelopoulos has spoken out against EuroLeague basketball practices and guaranteed contracts on numerous occasions in the past, as well as speaking of unfair competition. At the same time, such a move would likely have to result in an increase in the budget for AEK to handle that level. The scenario of simply leaving the BCL also has its peculiarities, as it is difficult for a team to get good players if they don’t have doubles games during the week.

In short, AEK’s (European) next day is… uphill. First, the “Union” must see if they can reduce the amount of their penalty somewhat before proceeding with any other movement. From there he has to see what will follow and what decisions need to be made. In every level.