Despite the heavy rain in Athens, basketball returned to SUNEL Arena with intensity and determination, as AEK BC opened its Round of 16 campaign in the Basketball Champions League Season X Powered by Ameresco SUNEL, with an 88–73 victory over Karditsa BC in an all-Greek matchup of Group J.

They may have been fewer, but their support was loud and unwavering, cutting through the heavy rain and filling SUNEL Arena with energy. Those present stood by the team from the opening tip to the final buzzer, creating a strong home-court atmosphere on a challenging night.

Karditsa proved highly competitive for more than 30 minutes, pushing AEK with intensity and discipline. However, experience made the difference in the final stretch, as the hosts showed composure and control to secure the win.

Lukas Lekavičius delivered a standout performance, finishing with 28 points, 21 of which came in the second half (8/13 two-pointers, 2/4 three-pointers, 6/7 free throws), leading AEK offensively when it mattered most.

The match also marked the debut of James Nunnally and KeyShawn Feazell in the yellow-and-black jersey. Nunnally contributed two assists in 6:16 of action, while Feazell added 5 points and 5 rebounds in just over nine minutes on the court.

With resilience on the stands and quality on the floor, AEK made a confident start to its Round of 16 journey, turning a rainy evening into a winning one at SUNEL Arena.