Maroussi and Aris grab big basketball wins
The favorites scored their second wins in the basketball league, the first with all players taking part, as the Greek players’ union had called off its strike midweek. Champion Panathinaikos had no problems with Ilisiakos, scoring an easy 81-62 win at Zografou yesterday, a few days after its 74-60 victory over CSKA Moscow for the Euroleague in Athens. Yet perfectionist coach Zeljko Obradovic was worried by the 17 errors his players committed against Ilisiakos. Cup-winner Olympiakos played behind closed doors yesterday but proved too strong for AEK, winning 82-50 in Piraeus in what proved to be a show of strength for the Reds. Unlikely Maroussi, which only managed to set up a squad a few days before the start of the A1, scored its second win in as many matches, beating Kolossos Rhodes 76-75 at home thanks to a last-second shot by Yiannis Gagaloudis. In the other games, Peristeri saw off visiting Kavala 65-54; Aris got the better of Panellinios at Lamia with a 72-62 score and PAOK beat Iraklis 78-59 last night. Tonight Ikaros Kallitheas hosts Panionios at Glyfada.
