Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Athens: Panathinaikos (#1) and Maroussi (#8). Maroussi was defeated at home 79-92 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Panathinaikos shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was Argentinian-Italian guard Luca Vildoza (191-1995, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 19 points and 5 assists. Polish center Aleksander Balcerowski (218-2000) chipped in 8 points and 13 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international forward Charis Giannopoulos (206-1989) who recorded 17 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Panathinaikos (12-0) have an impressive 12-game winning streak. They maintain first position with a perfect record of 12 victories in a row. Newly promoted Maroussi keeps the eighth place with eight games lost. They share the position with Kolossos HH and Lavrio. Panathinaikos’ supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Athens Peristeri.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Patras. Third ranked Promitheas faced 4th ranked PAOK. Host Promitheas (8-4) defeated guests from Thessaloniki (6-6) 80-73. It was a good game for American point guard Anthony Cowan Jr (183-1997, college: Maryland) who led his team to a victory with 22 points and 9 assists. Cameron Reynolds contributed with 14 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Icelandic point guard Elvar Fridriksson (182-1994, college: Barry) replied with 13 points and 9 assists for PAOK. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Promitheas maintains third position with 8-4 record having four points less than leader Panathinaikos. PAOK at the other side dropped to the fifth place with six games lost. They share the position with Aris and AEK. Promitheas will play against bottom-ranked Karditsas (#12) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. PAOK will play against Maroussi (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Karditsas managed to get a second victory, breaking the three-game losing streak on Saturday night. This time they edged eleventh-ranked Apollon Patras 76-74. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of Romello White who helped to win the game recording 18 points and 7 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). Karditsas’ coach Nikos Papanikolopoulos used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Malik Osborne with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 13 rebounds. Karditsas (2-10) moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Apollon. Karditsas will meet higher ranked Promitheas (#3) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Apollon will play against Aris (#6) in Thessaloniki and hope to secure a win.
Rest of the games of round 12 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
AEK defeated Lavrio in Athens 90-75. Olympiacos beat Aris at home 85-71. Kolossos HH lost to Peristeri on the opponent’s court 77-89.
Karditsas – Apollon 76-74
Bottom-ranked Karditsas managed to get a second victory, breaking the three-game losing streak on Saturday night. This time they edged eleventh-ranked Apollon Patras 76-74. Karditsas made 18-of-22 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of Romello White (203-1998, college: Ole Miss) who helped to win the game recording 18 points and 7 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) and point guard Ray McCallum (191-1991, college: Detroit) who added 15 points and 6 assists during the contest. Four Karditsas players scored in double figures. Karditsas’ coach Nikos Papanikolopoulos used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was forward Malik Osborne (206-1998, college: FSU) with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 13 rebounds and guard Justin Bibbs (196-1996, college: Virginia Tech) scored 14 points and 5 assists. Karditsas (2-10) moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Apollon. Karditsas will meet higher ranked Promitheas (#3) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Apollon will play against Aris (#6) in Thessaloniki and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Karditsas: R.White 18+7reb, R.McCallum 15+3reb+6ast, V.Jankovic 15+3reb+2ast, T.Mack 12+5reb+1ast, N.Diplaros 8+4reb+6ast, J.Sibert 5+4reb+1ast
Apollon: M.Osborne 19+13reb, J.Bibbs 14+2reb+5ast, C.Brown 9+3reb, R.Vaughn 9+6reb+5ast, G.Giouzelis 9+4reb, C.Saloustros 7+4reb+2ast
gschID: 1112467
Lavrio – AEK 75-90
There was no surprise when 9th ranked Lavrio (4-8) was defeated at home by seventh ranked AEK (6-6) 90-75 on Saturday. AEK dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Lavrio‘s 24. AEK looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Lavrio‘s players. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Justin Tillman (203-1996, college: VCU) who helped to win the game recording 31 points and 6 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) and the former international Ioannis Kouzeloglou (206-1995) who added 11 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. Four AEK players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American point guard David DeJulius (183-1999, college: Cincinnati) with 19 points and 4 assists and his fellow American import guard Xavier Castaneda (185-2000, college: Akron) scored 17 points. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. AEK moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Aris and PAOK. Loser Lavrio dropped to the eighth position with eight games lost. They share it with Maroussi and Kolossos HH. AEK will meet at home league’s second-placed Olympiacos in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Lavrio will play against Kolossos HH (#10) in Rodou and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
AEK: J.Tillman 31+6reb+1ast, J.McRae 13+6reb+3ast, N.Omer 12+3reb+1ast, I.Kouzeloglou 11+11reb, C.Randle 6+3reb+1ast, D.Flionis 5+2reb+1ast
Lavrio: D.DeJulius 19+2reb+4ast, X.Castaneda 17+3reb, M.Thornton 12+1reb+1ast, N.Horchler 7+9reb+1ast, T.Zaras 5+1reb, T.Panagiotis 5
gschID: 1112468
Maroussi – Panathinaikos 79-92
The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Athens: Panathinaikos (#1) and Maroussi (#8). Maroussi was defeated at home 79-92 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Panathinaikos shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was Argentinian-Italian guard Luca Vildoza (191-1995, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 19 points and 5 assists. Polish center Aleksander Balcerowski (218-2000) chipped in 8 points and 13 rebounds. Four Panathinaikos players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international forward Charis Giannopoulos (206-1989) who recorded 17 points and American forward Robert Woodard II (200-1999, college: MSU) added 14 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Panathinaikos (12-0) have an impressive 12-game winning streak. They maintain first position with a perfect record of 12 victories in a row. Newly promoted Maroussi keeps the eighth place with eight games lost. They share the position with Kolossos HH and Lavrio. Panathinaikos’ supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Athens Peristeri.
Top scorers:
Panathinaikos: L.Vildoza 19+2reb+5ast, M.Grigonis 16+3reb+2ast, K.Nunn 12+2reb+5ast, J.Hernangomez 11+8reb+1ast, A.Balcerowski 8+13reb+2ast, P.Kalaitzakis 8+3reb+2ast
Maroussi: C.Giannopoulos 17+4reb, R.Woodard II 14+5reb, N.Sibande 13+2reb+2ast, N.Alexandros 7+4reb+4ast, M.Raduljica 6+3reb+2ast, S.Juiston 6+5reb+2ast
gschID: 1112469
Olympiacos – Aris 85-71
No shocking result in a game in Piraeus where second ranked Olympiacos (11-1) defeated 5th ranked Aris (6-6) 85-71 on Sunday. Olympiacos outrebounded Aris 40-23 including a 30-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Olympiacos looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of French center Moustapha Fall (216-1992) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) and the former international Giannoulis Larentzakis (196-1993, agency: Octagon Europe) who added 17 points and 4 assists during the contest. Four Olympiacos players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American guard Jonathan Stark (184-1995, college: Murray St., agency: Pensack Sports) with 14 points and 7 assists and Latvian forward Roberts Blumbergs (208-1998, college: GCU) scored 16 points. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Olympiacos have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains second position with 11-1 record behind leader Panathinaikos. Loser Aris keeps the fifth place with six games lost. They share the position with PAOK and AEK. Olympiacos will meet AEK (#5) in the next round. Aris will play against Apollon and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Olympiacos: G.Larentzakis 17+4reb+4ast, M.Fall 15+10reb+3ast, N.Milutinov 13+5reb, N.Mitrou-Long 10+1reb+4ast, A.Peters 9+6reb+2ast, I.Canaan 6+2reb+3ast
Aris: R.Blumbergs 16+3reb+1ast, J.Stark 14+4reb+7ast, R.Gallinat 14+2reb, N.Persidis 8, S.de Sousa 6+2reb+1ast, L.Bochoridis 5+4reb+3ast
gschID: 1112470
Peristeri – Kolossos HH 89-77
Very expected game in Athens where 10th ranked Kolossos HH (4-8) was defeated by fifth ranked Peristeri (7-5) 89-77 on Saturday. Peristeri dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Kolossos HH‘s 36 and made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Peristeri looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Jermaine Love (191-1989, college: UIS) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 6 rebounds and American-Liberian point guard Joe Ragland (182-1989, college: Wichita St.) who added 7 points, 10 assists and 4 steals during the contest. The best for the losing side was Canadian power forward Simi Shittu (208-1999, college: Vanderbilt) with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds and Austrian power forward Luka Brajkovic (211-1999, college: Davidson) scored 15 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Peristeri moved-up to fourth place. Loser Kolossos HH dropped to the eighth position with eight games lost. They share it with Maroussi and Lavrio. Peristeri’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Athens to the arena Panathinaikos.
Top scorers:
Peristeri: J.Love 19+6reb+2ast, K.Williams III 12+2reb+2ast, E.Mitrou-Long 10+4reb+2ast, N.Renfro 10+3reb+2ast, T.Thompson 10+4reb, N.Dangubic 8+3reb+1ast
Kolossos HH: S.Shittu 19+12reb+2ast, L.Perrantes 16+3reb+2ast, L.Brajkovic 15+4reb+2ast, A.Goudelock 10+2reb, D.Utomi 7+3reb+1ast, T.Polley 4+4reb
gschID: 1112471
Promitheas – PAOK 80-73
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Patras. Third ranked Promitheas faced 4th ranked PAOK. Host Promitheas (8-4) defeated guests from Thessaloniki (6-6) 80-73. PAOK was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for American point guard Anthony Cowan Jr (183-1997, college: Maryland) who led his team to a victory with 22 points and 9 assists. The other American import Cameron Reynolds (201-1995, college: Tulane) contributed with 14 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Icelandic point guard Elvar Fridriksson (182-1994, college: Barry) replied with 13 points and 9 assists and American guard Andrew Harrison (198-1994, college: Kentucky) added 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for PAOK. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Promitheas maintains third position with 8-4 record having four points less than leader Panathinaikos. PAOK at the other side dropped to the fifth place with six games lost. They share the position with Aris and AEK. Promitheas will play against bottom-ranked Karditsas (#12) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. PAOK will play against Maroussi (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Promitheas: A.Cowan Jr. 22+4reb+9ast, J.Echenique 14+3reb+2ast, C.Reynolds 14+5reb+1ast, H.Hale 9, D.Stephens 8+3reb, C.Coffey 7+12reb
PAOK: E.Fridriksson 13+2reb+9ast, J.Alston 12+3reb, A.Harrison 10+7reb+4ast, V.Margaritis 9+4reb, K.Smith 9+2reb+3ast, M.Gilmore 7+5reb+1ast
gschID: 1112472
