AEK Betsson Bc vs Unicaja BCL Final Four Game Preview and How to Watch
- → Friday, May 9th – SUNEL Arena, Athens (19:00 BST / 21:00 local time)
- → AEK Betsson BC aim to bring the BCL trophy back to Greece for the first time since 2018.
- → Unicaja, riding the most dominant campaign in league history, look to repeat.
- → The home crowd prepares to roar. The defending champs don’t flinch.
- → It's revenge. It’s legacy. It’s Final Four basketball.
AEK Against the Machine: Can AEK Betsson Stop Unicaja’s March in Athens?
It hasn’t been a smooth ride, but AEK Betsson BC are back under the brightest lights - and back in their city.
After blowing out Nanterre 92 in front of a feverish home crowd, the black-and-gold now stand two wins from history.
This marks the third Final Four appearance for the Greek giants - all three have come on Athenian soil. In 2018, they lifted the trophy in front of a frenzied OAKA. In 2020, they came up short in an empty arena during the pandemic-era bubble. Now, in 2025, the fans are back. The stakes are high. And The Queen has one more shot at glory.
Dragan Šakota knows the moment. He’s lived it. But legacy alone won’t be enough. To keep the trophy in Athens, AEK must overcome the most ruthless team in the competition.
Unicaja: Dominant, Relentless, Unafraid
Unicaja hasn’t just won games this year - they’ve erased opponents.
Ibon Navarro’s squad arrives in Athens having dropped just one contest all season. They carry an 18-game BCL win streak - the longest ever. And just for good measure, they’ve added the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and Supercopa Endesa to their growing trophy cabinet.
This is a team built to suffocate. Built to share the ball. Built to leave no doubt.
They’ve already beaten AEK Betsson twice last season, both home and away - with a combined +32 point differential. Tyler Kalinoski, Kendrick Perry, Dylan Osetkowski and David Kravish lead a unit that feels more like a system than a lineup. The offense flows. The defense clamps. The results speak for themselves.
Hale’s Heat vs. Navarro’s Orchestra
If AEK are to shock Europe’s most consistent team, it starts - and maybe ends - with Hunter Hale.
The former Promitheas Patras guard has been electric this spring. Hale’s scoring has lifted AEK through tense playoff moments, and his recent 34-point outburst against Olympiacos proves he can torch even elite defenses.
Alongside Rayjon Tucker and Prentiss Hubb, AEK's backcourt brings volatility and fire. But fire burns quick. Can it outlast structure?
Navarro’s Unicaja doesn’t rely on one man. Nine players average 8+ points. Everyone has a role. Everyone delivers. And they don’t care if the crowd’s against them - they’ve already won here.
One Game. One Crowd. One Shot at Glory.
This is more than a Semi-Final. It’s a rematch seven years in the making.
Back in 2018, Navarro’s Murcia stood between AEK and the final. Now, it’s his Unicaja - stronger, smarter, scarier.
But basketball isn’t played on paper. It’s played in noise, in chaos, in moments of belief. And few places make you believe like Athens.
Will Unicaja continue their ruthless run to the title?
Or will the SUNEL Arena rise again, and carry AEK Betsson to another triumph?
AEK Betsson BC vs Unicaja BCL Final Four How to Watch
Watch AEK Betsson BC vs Unicaja in the BCL Final Four live from the Sunel Arena on Courtside 1891 with a FREE Plus account, or get a MAX subscription to enjoy a full summer of basketball*.
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