For the second time this season, Aris beat Buducnost in a thriller after overcoming big deficit.
Aris 'refused to lose' in 'emotional game'
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 15 of 18
Regular Season
group b
Aris Midea ThessalonikiARI
7675
Buducnost VOLI PodgoricaBUD
group b
Overview
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Things did not look promising for Aris Midea Thesssaloniki on Wednesday night at the end of the third quarter. In a clash with huge playoff implications, Aris was down 54-63 going into the fourth quarter.
Aris trailed by 11 points earlier in the third and that was not the first game in which Aris had a big deficit when facing Buducnost.
Earlier in the season, Aris trailed by as many as 16 points in the second quarter before using a 0-12 fourth-quarter run to rally and then make just enough free throws to pull out a 63-65 win.
This time around, Aris again rallied, but it needed a small miracle, and it came in the form of Roberto Gallinat's put-back dunk with 0.8 seconds to go for a 76-75 victory.
"I knew he could jump but I did not know he can go that high", one of Aris heroes Vassilis Toliopoulos said. "I have no words."
After making a defensive stand down 74-75, Aris had 8 seconds to go the other way. Ronnie Harrell, who hit both of his three-pointers earlier in the fourth quarter, went the other way, shook off a defender and fired a three-pointer. His shot hit the front of the rim and went up, only for Gallinat to elevate and slam a one-handed put-back dunk for a win, as fans went nuts at Palais de Sports.
Game Videos
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Turk Telekom Ankara-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3ce143f6-1365-4dcb-838b-c17b7a722116.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A75%3A35]()
Kamenjas hammers it home early! Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/05/UuQpe2wfOHFBVPsew9SQkgv2zZtns68j-1738795224029.jpg]()
Woodbury drives baseline for poster slam! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c11bce19-a32f-4b67-9741-4be53fe450d9.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/aa5fa3dc-c1ec-4cf1-b034-5748c3026539.jpg]()
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/95d78fb8-76e6-4bb6-8f46-5c908f73d153.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A159]()
Woodbury’s fastbreak slam! Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f0fcf968-4842-4d13-ab6f-3abbd2ea4a9a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A99%3A117]()
Woodbury drives baseline for poster slam! Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/29/VwiYerO6eMSF5XTf40pE2gJHLIWYglyN-1738187145494.jpg]()
Figueroa rejects from behind! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f1f5f203-8006-48de-b07f-05ba0d0b3236.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ceeede1c-3691-4d29-b883-4dcc8890c924.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Joventut Badalona | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/58505cdc-c17a-4a41-a0ec-e12858a2baaa.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A193%3A85]()
Figueroa rejects from behind! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e726d431-5886-4cfa-8a84-0e26a768dfe4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A65%3A235]()
Great team work by Buducnost! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/70qknY4UJr0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ratiopharm Ulm-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c221ebde-ce89-4560-9d2c-5ade2109832b.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/23910030-460a-4647-8b42-4d8133e99494.jpg?crop=1304%3A734%3Anowe%3A15%3A27]()
Kamenjas detonates the dunk on the break! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/r_IM8-CGA2U/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/05ff8965-56a0-42c2-ac7f-457f2bf26508.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A118]()
Salin creates a fastbreak from the floor! Magic Moment
- 00:08
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Kabengele hammers it home! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/KgBEvMugRfI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e4708395-9756-48ca-bffd-0bb83dd71484.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a88fc0b9-9773-40b6-849e-f8112d5d7b26.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A167%3A39]()
Zimpson dances and scores! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9688830d-8bed-4e48-bfa4-caefc2212018.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Aris Thessaloniki | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8907bfab-797c-4178-9331-83aadca1fbb9.jpg]()
Bahcesehir College Istanbul-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/55ab7e7e-56b5-4f65-ba51-d968ecfadcab.jpg?crop=4800%3A2700%3Anowe%3A225%3A637]()
An impossible three from Toliopoulos! Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cf138bac-7b20-462e-b860-b6c55d4ae947.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A97]()
Jovanovic forces overtime! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/edc1f71c-a1b5-49f1-9f03-9a3b8ad479d2.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A118%3A134]()
Kamenjas over the backboard! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5a58d395-a55c-4179-8981-f390d1ecb29e.jpg?crop=1155%3A650%3Anowe%3A144%3A73]()
Morgan throws it down! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e6003d64-5e5c-4386-9ff0-a85023270f68.jpg]()
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/VchLPIGqHXs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Trefl Sopot-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/09cfaa87-7ff5-4468-8ab9-29b180b35451.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A54%3A41]()
Ferrell's fancy assist! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b65fdead-13f6-40a4-861e-8e2eec939ef9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A147]()
Sulaimon dunks it off a steal! Magic Moment
- 01:13
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/20/B2KJQcVVjZQOcfKbhLuA2utmTA7qNzUR-1734737624137.jpg]()
Isaia Cordinier: 'We miss you, Toko!
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/MNO1RPkJITw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-FC Barcelona | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dab62ae-417e-4b0d-9d39-1af3707564d9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A128]()
Diouf dunks after classy Cordinier pass! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/dae9055d-488d-4422-98b1-b4abce99934d.jpg?crop=1046%3A589%3Anowe%3A194%3A81]()
Cordinier out of nowhere with the block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb96d3f6-1448-45a3-8519-5cbfbd81ec17.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A270%3A50]()
Jump ball leads to Clyburn dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dab62ae-417e-4b0d-9d39-1af3707564d9.jpg?crop=634%3A357%3Anowe%3A216%3A142]()
Diouf swats Nunez! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0gqo4ZcA8HE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5574f5a3-a41f-423c-85a5-36b68c874e3a.jpg?crop=640%3A359%3Anowe%3A506%3A63]()
Wright with the unreal vision! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ADe7hkcccCI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/aeI4xVw8Beg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Dreamland Gran Canaria-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/11812ceb-1b5f-4d5a-af0b-d2ae9928966a.jpg?crop=1225%3A689%3Anowe%3A23%3A94]()
Tanaskovic’s one-handed slam and one! Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5a58d395-a55c-4179-8981-f390d1ecb29e.jpg?crop=1277%3A718%3Anowe%3A5%3A91]()
Morgan dunks with force in transition! Magic Moment
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Turk Telekom Ankara-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/3k7uWxd2g2w/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/69d88395-6f1a-4bfe-8706-6715aedcad0b.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Umana Reyre Venice | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/nwb-KjpKQ9c/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:32
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Tanaskovic dunks with force! Magic Moment
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U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/de19609b-49e0-4461-9bfb-daf83823f15c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A53]()
Banks bangs one home! Magic Moment
"I cannot describe this game, how emotional it was how emotional everyone was. One of the best games I ever played in", Toliopoulos, who finished with 20 points and himself hit two triples in the fourth quarter, explained.
"[The] crowd was insane and the players refused to lose," Aris coach Ioannis Kastritis said. "We played with pride from the beginning of the season and that brought us here."
Where that approach and this win brought Aris is a 7-8 record, fifth best in Group B. With three regular-season games to go, Aris now has its playoff destiny in its own hands.
With games against group leader Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, and playoff-chasing rivals ratiopharm Ulm (8-7) and Dolomiti Energia Trento (7-8), Aris will need to keep playing with the same 'refuse to lose' attitude the rest of the way.