Greens see off Kolossos to set up final with Reds
Panathinaikos overcame strong resistance from Kolossos Rhodes on Monday with a 3-1 score in the best-of-five semifinal series and will face perennial rival Olympiakos in the finals to start in mid-May.
The Greens saw a stubborn Kolossos off with a score of 74-66 on Rhodes thanks to a solid second half that helped them pull away from their hosts, at one point by as many as 20 points (70-50).
Panathinaikos appeared considerably better focused on the game than had been the case last Saturday, when Kolossos scored an upset and won Game 3 of the series.
Now the Rhodes club will face Panionios in a best-of-five series for the third spot in the league and a place in next season’s Euroleague qualifiers. Kolossos will enjoy the home advantage.
Panathinaikos also won the National Junior Championship, finishing top of the mini-league that concluded on Tuesday. Fotis Zoumbos was voted Most Valuable Player. He is likely to join the men’s team as it prepares for its expedition to Istanbul to defend its Euroleague crown on May 11-13.
