Greek League, Playoffs, Semifinals, Game 5: May 21, 2008
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Olympiacos edged Maroussi 64-63 in a thrilling Game 5 of the Greek League semifinals to advance to the finals where the Reds will face Panathinaikos for the third straight year. The best-of-five finals series begins on Saturday, with the Greens, who had already swept Panionios in the semis, holding the home-court advantage. At the same time Panionios and Maroussi will compete at the best-of-five third place series. At the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Maroussi caused a lot of problems for the Reds, who closed the first quarter ahead only 19-18. Then the visitors scored some big threes for a 0-11 run and a 22-29 advantage, but Olympiacos reacted and cut the margin to 30-31 at the end of the first half. By the beginning of the third period, the Reds, led by Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, went on a 16-1 charge in a four-minute span and soared up to 46-37. But Maroussi proved themselves once again too tough and scored 7 unanswered points to tie it at 56-56, while Kostas Haralabidis sank a three to put Maroussi up 58-59. Vassilopoulos netted another three for 61-59, then Branko Milisavlievic tied things at 61-61, but Lynn Greer and Vasilopoulos gave Olympiacos a three-point gap, 64-61. Haralabidis posted 2 free throws to cut the margin to 64-63 with 16 seconds to go and then Manolis Papamakarios was called for five seconds violation. Maroussi had the last ball, but Milisavlievic missed the shot at the buzzer. Vasilopoulos posted 15 points and 6 boards to lead Olympiacos, while Ioannis Bouroussis recorded another double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds and Rod Blakney added 10 points and 4 assists. For Maroussi, Jarod Stevenson bagged 14 points and 8 boards, while Milisavlievic scored also 14 points, Haralabidis 12 points and Kostas Kaimakoglou 11 points.
| Semifinal Playoffs, best of 5 games |
| Record | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | | 3 | Panathinaikos (1) | 91 | 80 | 98 | x | x | | 0 | Panionios (4) | 75 | 76 | 75 | x | x | | 3 | Olympiacos (2) | 87 | 90 | 85 | 75 | 64 | | 2 | Maroussi (6) | 61 | 97 | 69 | 86 | 63 |
| Semifinal games | | Game 1 | Panathinaikos vs. Panionios On Telecoms | 91-75 | May 10 | | Game 1 | Olympiacos vs. Maroussi | 87-61 | May 10 | | Game 2 | Panionios On Telecoms vs. Panathinaikos | 76-80 | May 13 | | Game 2 | Maroussi vs. Olympiacos | 97-90 | May 13 | | Game 3 | Panathinaikos vs. Panionios On Telecoms | 98-75 | May 15 | | Game 3 | Olympiacos vs. Maroussi | 85-69 | May 15 | | Game 4 | Maroussi vs. Olympiacos | 86-75 | May 18 | | Game 5 | Olympiacos vs. Maroussi | 64-63 | May 21 |
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Vassilis Skountis, Athens
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