Aztec Financial controlled the second half to defeat Revantage Europ 56-42 in Clausen. After a balanced opening (13-14 in Q1) and a 23-23 tie at halftime, the home side broke the game open with a decisive third quarter (17-9) and never looked back.
The key sequence arrived midway through Q3: from 24-27 down, Aztec strung together an 11-0 run. It started with Eleftherios Akritas (AZT) at the line and was driven by Pedro Fontes (AZT) from deep and a burst of three straight baskets by Savvas Leventis Giannas (AZT), flipping the score to 35-27. Fontes added another three late in the quarter for 40-32. In Q4, Revantage briefly threatened when Paul-Alexandre Rischard (REV) hit from long range to make it 46-39, but Leventis Giannas answered with seven points in a row (a three and two twos) to push it to 53-39. Fontes' third triple set the largest lead at 56-39 before a late three by Rischard closed the scoring.
Leventis Giannas led all scorers with 20 points, including two threes and that crucial fourth-quarter run. Fontes added 11 with three triples, while Michael Mercado (AZT) and Leonidas Grigoriadis (AZT) chipped in 6 apiece; Grigoriadis also converted two free throws as Aztec went 3-of-3 from the line. For Revantage, Rokas Zapasnikas (REV) had 12, Thierno Fall (REV) 10, and Pul Aoun (REV) 9 (the team's lone free throw). Dean Loca (REV) and Rischard supplied the perimeter threat with one and two threes respectively.
Defensively, Aztec limited Revantage to 19 points after halftime (9 in Q3, 10 in Q4). Fouls were not a major factor, with no player in serious trouble. Coaches Chrstidouli Chatzimousi (AZT) and Paul-Alexandre Rischard (REV) oversaw a disciplined game; AZT's timely rotations in the third quarter coincided with the game-changing run. The hosts closed it professionally, building a peak 17-point margin at 56-39.
(AI generated)