|
|
Greek League playoffs, semifinals, Game 3: May 27, 2007 |
Four-time defending champion Panathinaikos was the first team to earn a berth in the Greek League playoff finals after its third win over Panionios, 85-67 on Sunday, concluded a dominating 3-0 sweep in the semis. Nikos Chatzivrettas led the winners in scoring with 17 points on perfect shooting: 6 of 6 two-pointers, 1 of 1 three-pointers and 2 of 2 free throws. Dimos Dikoudis and Ramunas Siskauskas reached double digits, too, with 11 and 10 points, respectively, and before it was over, every one of the 12 Greens on the roster put their names on the score sheet, too. Dragan Dojcin, with 12 points, was the only Panionios player to score in double figures. Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, Aris used a dozen fastbreak baskets to run past Olympiacos 81-71 to lead that best-of-five series 2-1. Jeremmiah Massey was unstoppable for Aris, finishing with 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, together with 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals and 1 assist. Scoonie Penn led Olympiacos with 18 points. The teams now move to Piraeus for Game 4 on Wednesday.
Panathinaikos was determined to finish the series at home, and made that clear with suffocating defense and picture-perfect offense on the way to an early 30-12 lead. Panionios was hurt, too, by poor 1-for-11 shooting from behind the three-point line to start the game. By halftime, Panathinaikos had already used 11 players, all of whom had scored. However, Panionios seemed not ready to surrender and cut the margin to 48-41 early in the second half. Panathinaikos responded with defense tht held Panionios 5 minutes without a basket as the lead climbed to 57-42. Nothing was to change after that as the Greens secured a 85-67 win and a place in the finals.
Aris dictate the rhythm to Olympiacos from the start of Game 3 of their series. Excellent perimeter defense helped the hosts force 9 Olympiacos turnovers in the first quarter alone, while Aris raced ahead 21-11. Olympiacos seemed unable to hold off Aris’s incredible momentum, as Castle dished assists and the dynamic duo of Massey-Mike Wilkinson dominated inside at both ends of the floor as the leads ballooned to 35-17 and then 44-25. Olympiacos tightened its defense at the start of the third quarter and managed to come as close as 49-40, but 2 triples from Massey and Tsaldaris rebuilt a big difference for the hosts. The margin went up to 69-51 in the 33rd minute. The Reds tried to press full court then, and were able to trim the difference to 9 points again, 73-64, but Aris kept its composure to sail to an 81-71 victory. Joning Massey in a dominant frontcourt for Aris, Wilkinson posted 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Savvas Iliadis and Dimitris Tsaldaris posted 15 and 14 points each from the wings, while Terrell Castle set up the offensive show by dishing 7 assists, as compared to only one for Penn. Arvydas Macijauskas had 13 points in 16 minutes of playing time for Olympiacos, but committed 5 turnovers.
GREEK LEAGUE: Semifinal Playoffs, best of 5 games |
| Record | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | 3 | Panathinaikos (1) | 85 | 69 | 85 | x | x | 0 | Panionios Forthnet (4) | 77 | 65 | 67 | x | x | 2 | Aris TT Bank (2) | 78 | 68 | 81 | May 30 | June 2* | 1 | Olympiacos (3) | 76 | 82 | 71 | - | - |
Semifinal Playoffs Games | | Game 1 | Panathinaikos vs. Panionios Forthnet | 85-77 | May 20 | | Game 1 | Aris TT Bank vs. Olympiacos | 78-76 | May 20 | | Game 2 | Panionios Forthnet vs. Panathinaikos | 65-69 | May 24 | | Game 2 | Olympiacos vs. Aris TT Bank | 82-68 | May 24 | | Game 3 | Panathinaikos vs. Panionios Forthnet | 85-67 | May 27 | | Game 3 | Aris TT Bank vs. Olympiacos | 81-71 | May 27 | | Game 4 | Olympiacos vs. Aris TT Bank | - | May 30 | | Game 5 | Aris TT Bank vs. Olympiacos | - | June 2* |
|
Sunday, May 27, 2007
|
Stelios Kyriakoglou, Athens |
|