Cedi Osman's 31 Points Power PAOK to Memorial Pajetta Tournament Title

PAOK completed a dominant run through the Memorial Pajetta Tournament, routing Napoli 100-74 in the final at APU Udine to lift the trophy, with Cedi Osman (203-SF-1995) putting together one of the best individual performances of the event. Osman finished with 31 points and was named tournament MVP, while captain Nikos Persidis lifted the trophy on PAOK's behalf.
Coach Andrea Trinchieri rested Nick Calathes (196-PG-1989, college: Florida), RaiQuan Gray (203-F-1999, college: FSU) and Christos Manthopoulos (203-C/F-2006) for the final, inserting Athanasios Bazinas (194-PG-2003) into the starting five, and PAOK never looked back after seizing control from the opening tip. Osman was red-hot immediately, hitting three of his first four three-point attempts to reach 10 points within minutes, and PAOK carried a 26-19 lead after the first quarter behind a Trevor Hudgins (181-PG-1999, college: NW Missouri St.) buzzer-beating three. The margin kept growing in the second, with PAOK reaching a first double-digit lead at 37-27 before Osman pushed his own total to 19 points as the Greek side took a 50-44 lead into the break.
PAOK opened up a 12-point cushion early in the third quarter as Osman crossed the 26-point mark, and the lead swelled as high as 17 before the Greek club closed the period ahead 72-57, having fully imposed its rhythm on the game. Chougkaz turned in a strong all-around effort with 13 points, Trevor Hudgins reached double figures with 12, and Osman crossed 30 points as PAOK pushed the margin past 20 with five minutes to play, cruising from there to the 100-74 final. Athanasios Bazinas also finished with 12 points off the new starting five, while Napoli got a team-high 18 points from Tote, 11 apiece from John Petrucelli (193-G/F-1992, college: Molloy), White and Jahmi'us Ramsey (190-SG-2001, college: Texas Tech), and 9 from Marco Spissu (184-PG-1995), but could not keep pace with PAOK's balanced attack.