AEK Athens eliminates Malaga and Killian Tillie in the semifinals: no Spanish team in the final!
May 7, 2026
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Killian Tillie and Malaga’s Difficult Season: « We Can’t Find Our Rhythm »
BCL - Killian Tillie and Malaga, two-time defending BCL champions, were eliminated in the semifinals by AEK Athens (78-65) on Thursday evening in Badalona.
Photo Credit : FIBA
Killian Tillie (6’10 », 28) and Malaga will not complete a BCL three-peat. As two-time defending champions, the Andalusian side were dominated by AEK Athens (78-65) on Thursday evening in the Final Four semifinals in Badalona. A deserved defeat given how the game unfolded, and also reflecting the struggles Unicaja has faced this season.
Long a benchmark in European basketball outside the EuroLeague, Malaga never found their footing against AEK. After ten minutes, Ibon Navarro’s team had scored just 9 points. At halftime, they had managed only 21 points — the lowest offensive first half in BCL semifinal history.
Malaga Never Found Their Rhythm
Returning after three weeks out, Killian Tillie tried to make an impact off the bench, contributing 7 points and 4 rebounds in 11 minutes. But the French international mostly witnessed his team’s offensive struggles.
« From the start, we couldn’t make a shot. We weren’t running. Normally we run all the time. We were decent defensively, but we just couldn’t make a shot. In the second half, we started really well. We thought we were going to make a run, then they hit a few big three-pointers. It’s rough. We were behind the whole game. We tried to come back, but it didn’t work out, » the Frenchman explained after the game.
Malaga did show signs of a comeback after halftime, but AEK always responded at the right moment, led by Frank Bartley, Lukas Lekavicius, and James Nunnally. In a heavily pro-Greek atmosphere, Dragan Sakota’s team kept control until the final buzzer.
7
PTS
4
REB
0
TOV
A Bumpier Season for Unicaja
This elimination comes at the end of a rougher season for Unicaja. After three years competing at the top of the Liga Endesa, Malaga holds just 16 wins against 13 losses in the league. The roster overhaul, including the departure of key players such as 2022 French champion Dylan Osetkowski (6’9″, 29), has clearly taken a toll.
Killian Tillie, however, refuses to make that the sole explanation.
« We lost quite a few important players, but that’s not the issue. This season has been a bit complicated. We have a lot of new guys and it’s a very complex system. Ibon’s system is really hard to integrate. You have to be very focused and very basketball-savvy, » he said, before adding: « This season has been a bit complicated for us offensively. It’s rough. I don’t know why. We can’t find our rhythm. We struggle to hit open shots — because we do get open shots, but we’re just not making them. »
Unicaja will now need to refocus on the end of the Spanish season, with a playoff spot still to secure. « The goal is to qualify. We’re tied for eighth right now, so it’s tough. We’ll have to play with a smile, with determination, and start making shots, » added the former Gonzaga standout, who said he was « sorry » for the Malaga supporters who had made the trip to Badalona. « They traveled to come support us. We thank them enormously. Without them, we are nothing. »
Killian Tillie Still Getting Back Up to Speed
For Tillie, this semifinal also marked a return to action after several weeks on the sidelines. In a very crowded rotation, the French big man must rebuild his match fitness while dealing with significant competition for minutes.
« We have twelve guys playing, so it’s tough to find minutes. It’s a bit harder to get into rhythm. I’ve had some injuries, like my whole career, and this was my first game in a few weeks, so it’s a bit tough, » he acknowledged.
Malaga will not have the chance to defend their European title. AEK Athens, who won the BCL in 2018, will return to the final six years after their last appearance at that stage.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
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