With plenty of new signings around the Greek A1 League for week 13, it seems that they are all making a statement. Are the usual top two suspects, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos listening though?
A.O.Trikala- P.A.O.K. 79-81
PAOK escaped Trikala with a big comeback in the last minute to notch their fifth consecutive win. The home team was solid in the start managing to take a 24-21 lead after 10’ mostly due to their good offensive choices. PAOK quickly recovered and with Langford dominating both paints, got to the halftime in front 39-45.
Trikala did not waste time managing to quickly catch up with their opponents and even overtake them by the end of the 3rd period, 62-61. They seemed to be in control of the game and one minute before the end they were leading 77-73, but the visitors found the way to turn things around and with Carter making this comeback possible, got the win which is their first in Trikala after 3 years. Langford had 16 points and Carter followed with 12 while for the defeated team Harris scored 17.
A.E.N.Kifissias- Panionios 86-85
In an exciting game where Panionios was in control for the biggest part, AENK found the way to end their losing streak while their opponents see their hopes of staying to the first division decrease. The “Red and Blue” crushed their opponent’s defense with Tubbs and Korolev being on fire, and after 10’ they were in front 21-28, but they did not stop there. The same pace continued and AENK was unable to follow that pace. Xanthopoulos was also in good day pushing his team to a 47-54 lead which showed that Panionios was determined to win.
Despite the fact that their top rebounder Coleman was ill and could not perform his best resulting to a big total rebound difference (42-29 In the end), Panionios forced the home team to chase them since they played with passion and will to win. 68-73 after 30 minutes but AENK did not give up, applied more defensive pressure as the 4th quarter proceeded, draw many fouls that resulted Woods and Coleman to be sent off, and used their experience to overtake and maintain the lead until the end. Davis was the top performer for the winners with 29 points, while Kakiouzis scored 18 points and collected 10 rebounds. For Panionios Korolev had 26 and Tubbs 25.
Kolossos Rhodes- Koroivos Amaliadas 82-75
Koroivos fought hard but Kolossos was in front throughout the game and got the win at home. The visitors appeared very anxious in the game allowing Kolossos to take control 15-11 with both teams having poor shooting totals. They even managed to reach the difference to double digits (30-20) establishing their dominance and going to the break in front 37-28.
Koroivos tried to react at the start of the 3rd but Rhodians soon recovered and with Tsamis leading the way ended the quarter in front 57-48. The same tempo resumed at the closing quarter when the visitors made their last stand, reaching within 1 point 5’ before the end. It was Kolossos once again that found the way to retain their lead and get the win against Amaliada who played with passion but could not stay calm in the end and score their first away win this season. Smith had 14 for the home side and Davis was the top scorer for the defeated team with 16.
Panelefsiniakos-Olympiacos 66-102
Olympaicos had no trouble overcoming the bleak challenge of Panelefsiniakos, as the Reds came away with a solid 102-66 win in a game that saw every Olympiacos player get court time and all but one scored.
Tremmell Darden led the victors with 15 points, as he led six Olympiacos players in double figures for scoring. Panelefsiniakos remains in tenth spot in the league with this loss.
Apollon-Panathinaikos 71-77
Panathinaikos were given a scare by Apollon but eventually came out 77-71 winners to stay with the pace in the league. The Greens sit second behind deadly rivals Olympiacos.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Toarlyn Fitzpatrick’s game-high 23 points were not enough as Estiban Batista’s 18 led the visitors to victory.
AEK Athens-KAOD 89-79
Great Britain international Pops Mensah Bonsu exploded for 31 points and 14 rebounds as AEK Athens defeated second from bottom KAOD 89-79 at the OAKA. The hosts quickly raced out to a 22-13 lead after the first ten minutes and from there never looked back.
Mensah-Bonsu was unstoppable, going 11/13 from the field as the Athens side continue their rise up the table.
Aris-AGOR 68-62
Senegal international Mouhammad Faye scored 15 points and led Aris to a 68-62 home win as they stayed in third place.
In game that was scrappy from the word go, Aris eventually got the momentum and went ahead in the first half. The visitors replied in the third as AGOR found their stroke and looked goo value for the win, but Aris had the final answers in the final period, holding AGOR to 13 points, while scoring 23 themselves in the final ten minutes for the win.
George Kioussis and TalkBasket staff writers contributed to this report.
