Maroussi shocks Aris at Thessaloniki
Maroussi sprang an upset on Aris on April 30 and Peristeri nearly shocked Panathinaikos, as the league playoffs grow in interest at their quarterfinal stage.
Maroussi overturned Aris’s home advantage and won 86-72 at the Alexandrio Sports Hall of Thessaloniki to earn a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series that leads to the league semifinals.
Peristeri, already trailing 1-0 from Game 1, forced overtime against Euroleague challenger Panathinaikos and was narrowly defeated 74-72 by the champion, whose mind was most likely on the upcoming Final-Four of Europe’s top club competition on May 6-8.
The result means that Panathinaikos has won the series with a 2-0 score and will advance to the semi, where it will face one of PAOK and Kavala.
Olympiakos had few problems against Kolossos. After the first period, when it led by just one point (19-18), it put its collective foot on the gas and ran away with the lead to win 90-55 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. The Reds now lead 1-0.
PAOK and Kavala had a tight encounter that could have swung either way, but the host managed to take a 1-0 lead after a 65-61 victory.
Games 2 of the series, except for the one already won by Panathinaikos, are set for May 4.
