(25^th May) KERAVNOS Vs APOEL: 58 - 54

KERAVNOS WON THEIR 9^th CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1994.

We believe that there is little to say about this team and the people around them. This team won their 9^th Championship title since 1994 and the 22^nd in total. This extent their winning record that seams unreachable in the years to come. In our humble opinion, there is a simple explanation behind this great achievement which is hard for the other teams to follow. This team was created in 1987 from a few people that love basketball and believed that they could create a team from scratch. Their only motive was their great passion for this club and the sport. They managed through these last 18 years to pass their great passion to the girls and teach them that the players that make this team must have a common target. The team is above all. We believe that they have succeeded.

This Championship was one of the most difficult. APOEL was a worthy opponent and they truly believed that this year they would win the title. In the other hand our girls truly beat all odds and they found the strength to overcome all the obstacles they found in their way. The season started with many problems. Julia was in the injury list and could not help the team until after Christmas. Pavlina went to UK for studies so the team would loose one of the two columns this team had for more than 10 years. Vicky one of the most experience players (and the first official player of the women's team of KERAVNOS) decided to stop basketball. There were numerous problems to add to those three but it is not the time to mention them. The girls put the problems behind them, regroup in the Play-offs and when they were against the wall (remember the second leg of the semi-final against APOEL) and won 3 more titles to add the 19 they had.


In the game now, where the Champions did not start good. APOEL stress-free managed to take the lead by playing fast in their offence and with strong defense. The girls were not able to concentrate and gave away their biggest weapon, the defense. APOEL in the first half scored 35 points (remember they only scored 47 in 40 minutes in the previous game). Things got worst minutes before the end of the first half when one of the team Captains and one of the best player of KERAVNOS at the court Silvia, twisted her angle. The first half score was 24- 35 for APOEL.

Against all odds (for once more) the girls "transformed" and they remembered why they are the best team in Cyprus. The third quarter was probably one of the best this team had this season. The girls played for their captain, their coach, the people close to the team and last but not least their loyal fans. Offensively all five players that played in this quarter scored. Their defense was once again "taken from a book". Their opponents scored only 6 points in the third quarter. In this quarter Pavlina showed truly why people consider her the best "center" in Cyprus. She and Stalo played incredible defense under the basket. The three guards, Julia, Despina and Georgia followed with their magnificent performance and help the team in these crucial stages. At the end of the third quarter KERAVNOS managed to equalize the game to 41-41.



The final quarter was truly a basketball thriller and the 400 fans were lucky to watch it. KERAVNOS continue to use their weapon (defense) and managed to take the lead with the young shooting-guard Georgia Konstantinou who scored a crucial three-point shoot at the beginning of the final quarter. From that minute and on, KERAVNOS did not loose the lead to score again. APOEL on the other hand did not give up and they tried to answer with scoring from short distances and pressing the ball and the guards as much as they could.

At that point the experience of Julia in organizing the team and the quickness and good handling of the ball of Despina helped the team. The final whistle of the referee at the end of the game found KERAVNOS winning this year Championship.

The joy and the happiness of the girls, the Coach, Adamos, Stelios, Vicky and the fans can not be described. In the days to come we will try to show you a sample of what followed with pictures that were taken after the game. CONGRATULATIONS TO KERAVNOS FOR WINNING THEIR 22^nd TITLE.

Check out for more photos. Click here...

Keravnos: (Panayiotis Yiannaras) Despina Panayi 10(4), Stalo Phedonos 8, Georgia Nicolaou , Pavlina Charalampidou 17, Georgia Konstantinou 5(1), Julia Stylianidou 9, Silvia Charalampous 9, Chara Rousaki

APOEL: (Ionov E.) Enotiadou G. 3, Papadopoulou Ch. 6, Kouzi N. 12(2), Nikodimou K. 11(1), Eyripidou L. 4, Ionava V. , Merkouri Ch. 16, Theologou S. 2

THE QUARTERS: 10': 13-15, 20': 11-20, 30': 17-6, 40': 17-13

WHAT THE MEDIA WROTE

• ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ (26/5): Και φέτος... Κεραυνός! Click here...

• ΧΑΡΑΥΓΗ (26/5): Πρωταθλητής ο Κεραυνός Click here...

• ΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ (27/5): Η δυναστεία καλά κρατεί! Click here...

• ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ (27/5): : Kεραυνός: Ένατος τίτλος Click here...