Shocking situation in Cyprus: two teams form a scheme to lose the game / News - Basketnews.com

Two teams, PAEEK and Apollon, who were set to play against one another, formed a scheme to lose the last game of the season so they would not have to pay additional salaries to players and coaches if they got to the playoffs. It so happened that both teams did the same thing.

Credit: Vytautas Kuralavičius Credit Vytautas Kuralavičius

A stunning situation occurred in the Cypriot Basketball League (OPAP Basket League) last week. Two teams - PAEEK and Apollon - were scheduled to play, but both of them needed to lose the game, so both teams orchestrated a scheme to do it.

The match was postponed, and the reason behind it is both surprising, shocking, and, in a way, funny.

According to Reporter Cyprus, both PAEEK and Apollon tried to lose the game by supposedly forgetting to bring player registration cards, which are mandatory for the league representatives to check before the game.

Apollon arrived with seven players on the roster, while PAEEK brought just five.

The entire situation happened due to the structure of the OPAP Basket League. PAEEK were in 7th place, while Apollon were 8th, but both teams were tied with 6th-placed ETHA. The top 6 teams in the tournament advance to the playoff stage.

Both PAEEK and Apollon are struggling financially. With this being the last game of the regular season, both teams wanted to lose to remain out of the playoffs so they do not have to play the team's players and coaching staff additional salaries, the Reporter writes.

Following the game's postponement, the dispute between the teams and the league will continue in court.

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