Thanos with historical first Cyber EL win! Italian Derby goes to Virtus

Greek newcomer “Thanos” celebrates his breakthrough victory on Europe's top NBA 2K stage, delivering an impressive offensive performance and holding Karolis Sapiega's Milan below 60 points.

October 10, 2026 | Cyber EuroLeague 2K27 | Regular Season, Round 2

"Thanos" has finally opened his winning account in the Cyber EuroLeague — and he did it in convincing fashion.

After suffering two narrow defeats in his first appearances at Europe's highest level of online NBA 2K competition, the Greek gamer guided Virtus Bologna to an emphatic 84–59 victory over Karolis Sapiega's EA7 Olimpia Milano, securing his first career Cyber EuroLeague win.

What began as a closely contested encounter quickly turned into a statement performance, as Karafinas combined efficient outside shooting with a strong defensive effort to claim a memorable 25-point victory.

The result improved Virtus to 1–2, while Milan moved to 2–2 in the standings.

A 31–8 Second Quarter Changes Everything

Milan initially appeared to have the upper hand, taking a 20–16 lead after the opening quarter.

However, the momentum changed dramatically in the second period.

Karafinas took control offensively, guiding Virtus to an extraordinary 31–8 second-quarter advantage. The decisive run turned a four-point deficit into a commanding 47–28 halftime lead.

Sapiega managed to stabilize Milan's performance after the break, with his team winning the third quarter 18–14. Nevertheless, Virtus maintained a comfortable 61–46 advantage entering the final period.

Any hopes of a Milan comeback disappeared in the fourth quarter.

Virtus finished strongly, outscoring its opponent 23–13 to complete an impressive 84–59 victory.

For Karafinas, it was the ideal response to a frustrating start to his debut Cyber EuroLeague campaign.

Virtus Delivers at Both Ends of the Court

Virtus produced one of its most efficient offensive performances of the young season.

Karafinas' team converted 36 of 62 field-goal attempts (58%), compared with Milan's 27 of 64 (42%).

The difference was particularly noticeable from beyond the arc.

Virtus connected on 10 of 24 three-point attempts (42%), while Milan managed just 5 of 19 (26%).

Karafinas also enjoyed a significant advantage inside, with Virtus outscoring Milan 48–34 in the paint.

The rebounding battle proved equally important. Virtus collected 42 rebounds compared with Milan's 26, while the Bologna bench contributed 37 points against 24 from Milan's reserves.

Despite committing more turnovers, Virtus controlled the game's decisive stretches through its superior shooting efficiency and physical presence.

Most importantly for Karafinas, his defensive objective was achieved: Milan finished with just 59 points.

A Historic Milestone for Greece's Newest Cyber EuroLeague Representative

The victory carries additional significance for the Greek esports scene.

Karafinas is only the third Greek gamer to reach the Cyber EuroLeague stage, joining a select group of competitors from Greece to participate in Europe's premier NBA 2K online championship.

The rising competitor has also recently signed with eSportsBattle (ESB) Sofia, where he participates in the company's European Conference groups.

His involvement with ESB adds another dimension to his competitive development as he gains experience across different high-level basketball esports environments.

The start of his Cyber EuroLeague journey had been challenging.

Two narrow opening defeats left Karafinas searching for his first victory, including a particularly frustrating encounter against Bayern Munich.

In that game, the Greek newcomer produced a remarkable comeback after falling behind but ultimately failed to complete the turnaround.

Against Milan, however, Karafinas ensured there would be no repeat disappointment.

This time, the decisive advantage was built early — and protected until the final buzzer.

Post-Game Reactions: Different Perspectives on the Result

Following the contest, Milan representative Karolis Sapiega expressed frustration with the game's treatment of contested shots around the basket.

Karolis Sapiega — EA7 Olimpia Milano:

"The game didn't recognize the contests on layups the way it should have. That's all I can say."

The Lithuanian gamer pointed to what he considered inconsistent recognition of defensive contests, although Milan ultimately struggled to match Virtus' shooting efficiency.

Karafinas, meanwhile, preferred to focus on his team's performance and the significance of finally securing his first win.

Thanasis Karafinas — Virtus Bologna:

"We shot the ball very well, including from outside. We played good defense. If we can keep opponents below 60 points every game, I would be happy."

Addressing the debate surrounding gameplay conditions, the Greek competitor emphasized that both sides competed under the same circumstances.

"The conditions were the same for both of us, and the game wasn't tied, so I don't think we should be looking for explanations there."

For Karafinas, however, the most important aspect of the afternoon was overcoming the frustration of his first two appearances.

"I'm happy to get my first win. We were quite unlucky in our first two games. We had a huge comeback against Bayern, but we couldn't finish it perfectly. So now I'm very happy that we finished the job."

A Breakthrough That Could Change Virtus' Momentum

The victory gives Karafinas something that had been missing from his first two Cyber EuroLeague appearances: a result to accompany his competitive performances.

More importantly, it demonstrates his ability to respond to early setbacks at the highest level of European NBA 2K competition.

With a 58% field-goal conversion rate, 10 successful three-pointers and a defensive display that restricted Milan to 59 points, Karafinas delivered an encouraging statement about his potential.

For Sapiega and Milan, the defeat provides plenty to analyze, particularly after allowing Virtus to dominate the second quarter.

For Karafinas, the message is considerably simpler.

After two narrow defeats, a painful missed comeback against Bayern and a demanding introduction to the competition, “Thanos” finally has his first Cyber EuroLeague victory.

And with the Greek newcomer now off the mark, Virtus Bologna will hope this result marks the beginning of a more successful run.

FINAL SCORE

EA7 Olimpia Milano 59–84 Virtus Bologna

Quarter scores (Milan–Virtus): 20–16 | 8–31 | 18–14 | 13–23

Cyber EuroLeague 2K27 — Regular Season, Round 2

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