Aris- Olympiacos 84-74
Aris played their best game this season and managed to stay alive in the series. Despite the empty Nick Gallis Hall, the home team achieved to take control of the game after 10’, leading 21-18. Great shooting totals (50% behind the arc by halftime) and only 1 turnover, gave them the 44-37 lead by half time.
The visitors could not react and it was clear they did not have the patience required to make a comeback, resulting to Aris taking a double- digit lead 50-37 short after the restart. Many missed shots from the “Reds” but improved defense helped them to slightly reduce the margin to 65-57 after 3 quarters. With 10 minutes left, Vezenkov was unstoppable, Olympiacos was too nervous and finally the home side emerged victorious after taking advantage of their strong closing period. MVP was Vezenkov with 28 points and 6 rebounds while for Olympiacos Mantzaris scored 14 and grabbed 7 rebs.
Panathinaikos- P.A.O.K. 83-65
Panathinaikos is the first team that gets to the Greek Basket League finals after beating PAOK for 3rd time. The “Greens” established their superiority right from the tip-off, playing very quick basketball while defending hard to get in front 12-33. They even got in front 17-42, almost putting an end to their opponent’s hope for a comeback. The score at half time was 31-50 after 2 consecutive 3-pointers from Odum.
Carter tried to take his team on his shoulders performing very well after the break but on the other side Mavrokefalides did not allow him to become a big threat for his team, until the point where Odum made his 5th shot behind the arc in 5 attempts to bring the game within 11, with Diamantidis scoring again to prevent a single digit margin. 53-67 after 30’ and PAOK looked to be exhausted and unable to try to make the game a thriller, finally giving up the game to see Panathinaikos players celebrate their promotion to the finals inside their homecourt. MVP was Mavrokefalides with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in his best game of the play-offs. For the eliminated club, Odum had 17 points.
