NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - Every so often, a special game played in a special atmosphere, gets the special ending everyone craves. Well, not exactly a special ending for everyone, and especially not for the unbelievable record breaking 11,000 Kayseri Kaski spor fans.

Last Thursday evening, I had the pleasure of watching a quite astonishing night of women's basketball, which culminated in one of the most dramatic and stomach churning finishes imaginable; and all played out in front of the biggest crowd in the history of EuroCup Women.

The second Cup competition in European women’s ball, the Final was beautifully poised. A two-legged affair, Dynamo Moscow had wangled a fragile five-point lead from the first game a week earlier in the Russian capital.

The hosts of the second game, Kayseri, felt it was their destiny to win this title and you could understand why. For exactly one year earlier, they suffered heartache when they took what looked to be an unassailable 14-point first leg advantage to Dynamo Kursk in the Final and subsequently lost by 23.

They shattered the attendance record in 2012 for that first leg game, when over 7,000 fans poured into the Kadir Has Arena - 2,000 more than any previous Final crowd. So, seeking to make amends and with their team unbeaten on home soil, another 4,000 Kayseri locals poured through the doors in eager anticipation, creating an absorbing and intense atmosphere.

As the flags waved and voices sang out in unison, the players responded and especially in the third quarter when they moved 14 points ahead on the night, and nine points in the tie. Led by Greek duo Evanthia Maltsi and Zoi Dimitrakou as well as the terrific Lara Sanders, they had Dynamo on the ropes and the huge crowd were beginning to plan the post-game celebrations.

However, the Russians continued to cling on and that set nerves jangling, especially when they came storming back to erase the lead of Kayseri and the fingernails were starting to be chewed in vigorous fashion by the anxious Turkish spectators.

But, much to their obvious delight, the Kayseri players found another gear in crunch time and looked to have sealed the deal at 74-65 ahead, with less than 30 seconds on the clock. Even after deducting the five-point first leg advantage of Dynamo, it seemed a foregone conclusion the name of Kayseri would be engraved upon the Trophy.

What happened in the next 30 seconds though almost defied belief. For a neutral like myself, it threw up the strangest mixture of emotions I think I've ever felt watching a game. Exhilaration and excitement at one of the most dramatic late pendulum swings I've witnessed over the years, but a feeling of genuine nausea for Kayseri, who inexplicably pressed the self-destruct button.

Despite everyone in the gym and thousands watching on television knowing exactly where the ball would be jacked up from, Kayseri still switched off and allowed Los Angeles Sparks star Kristi Toliver to step up and drain a huge three-pointer. Then, on the inbound play, Nuria Martinez spilled the ball as veteran Russian star Ilona Korstin grabbed the steal and made a lay-up on the fast-break to quite literally rip the silverware out of Kayseri's hands.

There was even time for a third knife through the heart of Kayseri as they got one final opportunity to complete a fairytale end to the script when they got the last possession, but threw the ball away to leave those 11,000 fans with their heads in their hands and in unadulterated despair.

Even I instinctively put my hands to my face and squinted through the gaps in my fingers. It was that kind of moment when you just thought, even as a neutral - 'Oh no, what have they done?'

I don't think I have ever muttered the word 'ouch' so loudly whilst watching any other game before. We've all seen buzzer beaters over the years and sure, they are hard to stomach. But this just seemed to be as gut-wrenching as it gets.

It was arguably the most dramatic Final in EuroCup Women's history. Whilst a few years ago, Galatasaray needed overtime to clinch silverware, the extra period is relatively commonplace in the sport. Blowing a two-possession game with incredibly high stakes and so little time left on the clock is even rarer and in my opinion, much more dramatic.

You had to have huge sympathy for Kayseri and their fans, but as the air drained out of the party balloons, there was a fundamental lesson and reminder for every coach, player and fan out there thanks to Dynamo Moscow.

Never give up until that final buzzer sounds.

And perhaps on that basis alone, Dynamo Moscow fully deserve their status as 2013 EuroCup Women champions.

As for Kayseri, this wound may take some time to heal, but nobody will forget the quite phenomenal passion and support the Kayseri fans showed for their city and team.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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