Panathinaikos Evens the Score in the Final: Title to Be Decided in Piraeus. Panathinaikos snatched victory from Olympiacos after two overtimes, evening the series. The Greek League final will now be decided in the fifth game. The match was marked by disqualifications and penalties.
The final series of the Greek Basketball League has turned into a fierce battle: despite personnel losses, Panathinaikos managed to defeat Olympiacos in the fourth game after two overtimes — 93:86. The series is now tied (2:2), and the championship will be decided in a decisive fifth game, which will be held in Piraeus. For both teams, this is a test of endurance: the players are playing every 48 hours, and the tension on the court is only increasing.
Panathinaikos took to the court without three key players — Cedi Osman, Kostas Sloukas, and Nikos Rogkavopoulos were unable to help the team. Nevertheless, the team, led by Ergin Ataman, handled the pressure. Evan Fournier once again stood out for Olympiacos, scoring 29 points, but his perimeter shooting was below his usual standards — only 4 out of 12 three-point attempts were successful. Panathinaikos' best player was Kendrick Nunn (23 points, 5 out of 8 from beyond the arc), but he was forced to leave the court after fouling out. Juancho Hernangómez did not make any of his six three-point attempts, but led the team in rebounds (10).
The game was extremely physical: Nigel Hayes-Davis was on the court for almost the entire match (48 minutes and 22 seconds), and several Olympiacos players logged more than 40 minutes of playing time. Despite the fatigue, both teams continue to battle each other and remain undefeated at home with the support of their fans.
The series is not without scandals and sanctions. After an incident in the second game, Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos received a six-month ban from attending basketball arenas and a €50,000 fine for repeated accusations against the referees. Olympiacos head coach Giorgos Bartzokas was also fined €10,000 for his behavior in the locker room area, and the club’s general manager Nikos Lepeniotis was temporarily barred from visiting sports facilities. In the third game, Ergin Ataman was ejected after two technical fouls, and after the match Mathias Lessort expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, stressing that both teams should be on equal terms.
Such tense series with overtimes and roster losses are not uncommon in European basketball. For example, the Endesa League semifinal between Valencia Basket and Asisa Joventut also went into overtime, with significant personnel losses — details of that game are available here. This season’s Greek League final once again proves that the battle for the title goes far beyond the court and demands maximum focus from all participants.
For reference: Panathinaikos and Olympiacos are the most titled clubs in Greece, and their rivalry is traditionally marked by high tension. The fifth game of the final will take place in Piraeus, where Olympiacos has not lost in the current series. The winner of the match will become the national champion.
