Panathinaikos, Aris and Iraklis made important steps in the run for the first places of the standings, while Marousi lost the crucial game in Thessaloniki against Aris, actually the team with the best shape of Greece. The amarousiotes led the game for 35 minutes, with a maximum margin of 14 points at the beginning of the third period, but couldn’t manage their problems with fouls. Aris, led by Parker (26) and Stack (19) did their best in the last minutes, grabbing the overtime. With Spanoulis, Hutson (35 points, a useless losing effort), Smilijanic and Grgat fouled out (and the absence of Blackney) the visiting team couldn’t make anything in the last five minutes (Giannakis junior, son of Panagiotis, made his debut in the A1) and was crushed 101-89.

 

Panathinaikos, after having suffered for 27 minutes against Ilysiakos and his best player Willie Deane (25 points, unstoppable for the Greens for ¾ of game), now watches the first place, while Iraklis Thessaloniki led by the amazing Lazaros Papadopoulos (28 points) and Dimitris Diamantidis (11 points, 11 rebounds) won easily in the difficult court of Peristeri and reached the 4^th place. For the Princes of West Pete Mickeal had his worst game since he arrived in Greece, scoring only 5 points with 2/9 from the field. An important step has been made by AEK Athens, that beat Irakleio in Crete with the great effort of captain Nikos Hatzis who had 27 points with 6/6 from beyond the arc. Irakleio had the ball to carry the teams to the overtime with Tsirigotakis, but the 27-year-old guard couldn’t give the last hope to the islanders from Crete that now should look at their back.

 

Apollon Patras in front to a great crowd won a crucial game against Makedonikos Kozani and can breathe now, while the visiting team lost a great chance to put two victories between them and the 9^th place. MVP Barlos with 24 points, well supported by Thomas with 23.

 

Panionios repeated itself winning against Olympiakos Piraeus 99-78 at home: the Reds went to New Smyrna without Bagaric and Wolkowyski and suffered the presence in the paint of Giannoulis and Watson (18 points and 15 rebounds): Sakota tried everything, giving playtime to Printezis, Kalampokis and Giannouzakos too, but it’s impossible now to find a solution to the problems of Olympiakos, impressive in the last games of the Euroleague but without soul in the championship. Actually the Reds are out of the playoffs, and the calendar till the end of the season isn’t easy at all for the Piraeus Band.

 

Full results of the Match-Day #18

Apollon Patras – Makedonikos Kozani, 97-73

Aris Thessaloniki  - Marousi, 101-89 1ot

Irakleio – AEK Athens, 78-80

Panathinaikos – Ilysiakos, 95-78

Paninios Smyrna – Olympiakos Piraeus, 99-78

PAOK Thessaloniki – Ionikos Nea Filadelfia, 101-89

Peristeri – Iraklis Thessaloniki, 55-66

 

Standings after the Match-Day #18

1. Marousi 15-3

2. Panathinaikos 13-4 (*)

3. Aris Thessaloniki 12-6

4. Iraklis Thessaloniki 11-7

5. AEK Athens 10-7 (*)

6. Peristeri 10-8

7. PAOK 10-8

8. Makedonikos 9-9

9. Olympiakos Piraeus 8-10

10. Panionios Smyrna 7-11

11. Irakleio 6-12

12. Apollon Patras 6-12

13. Ilysiakos 5-13

14. Ionikos Nea Filadelfia 3-15

 

(*) AEK Athens – Panathinaikos will be replayed on February, the 26.