Nicosia Municipality claimed the first title of the year in the Nicosia Basketball Championship, defeating the Nicosia Bar Association 69–60 in last night’s Bronze Division Grand Final, after a highly competitive and thrilling contest that was decided in the closing stages.
The big game at the English School indoor arena kept fans on the edge of their seats, both those who attended in person and those who followed the match through our live broadcast. The two teams battled fiercely for the title until the very end, with the celebrations ultimately going to the nominal home side.
The balance of the game was evident throughout, as the largest lead between the two teams was the nine-point margin by which Nicosia Municipality eventually won — a gap that was reached in the final minute when the outcome had essentially been decided. The game was tied on eight different occasions.
The match remained point-for-point until roughly the final minute, when Aloupas hit a crucial three-pointer to give Nicosia Municipality a five-point lead (65–60). Tsakonas was unable to respond on the next possession, and shortly after, Theodorou committed a foul on Savoulis to stop a fast break. Savoulis calmly converted both free throws, extending the lead to seven and effectively sealing the victory for his team.
Top performers for the winners were Iordanis Aloupas, Giorgos Liolis and Marios Menoikou, who scored 17, 13 and 12 points respectively, while every player who saw action for the team managed to get on the scoresheet. For the Bar Association, Nikos Tsakonas and Ilias Lampidis stood out with 21 points each, followed by Dimitris Theodorou with 16.
Warm congratulations go to the champions for their fully deserved title and for their strong run, particularly in the second phase of the championship. Congratulations are also due to the team of Nikolas Konstantinou, who proved to be a very capable opponent, fought until the very end and ultimately lost the game in the details. We wish both teams a good rest and enjoyable holidays, and we look forward to seeing them again from next autumn!
