Greek lockout in effect
Basketball clubs decided on October 11 to postpone the start of the league, originally planned for the weekend of October 15-16, due to the lack of a television contract, which constitutes the main source of revenues for the cash-strapped teams.
ESAKE, the league’s organizer, decided by majority (seven votes to four) to put off the opening round of games until a TV channel agrees to buy the rights of all teams as a package, as opposed to having separate deals only for the most popular teams.
State broadcaster ERT has already agreed on terms with giants Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, who voted against this Greek version of a lockout.
Now the league’s other clubs, led by PAOK, Aris and Panionios, are putting pressure on ERT to buy their rights, too, to render the league viable.
The next possible date for the league’s tipoff is October 22.
Meanwhile Kavala and PAOK have joined favorites Olympiakos and Panathinaikos in the semifinals of the Cup after this week’s quarterfinals.
While Panathinaikos had a smooth evening on October 11, beating depleted Maroussi 93-61 at home, and Olympiakos saw off a spirited Aris 80-59 away the following day, the other two Wednesday games were never going to have foregone conclusions.
Eventually PAOK reached the semis for a second consecutive season, defeating visiting Ikaros Kallitheas 89-67, while hosts Kavala beat Ilisiakos 77-76 in a dramatic game decided in the last second through a Sotiris Karapostolou buzzer-beater.
In the semis, to take place in February, Panathinaikos will host Kavala and Olympiakos will face PAOK.
