GRE – Batiste surpassed Bodiroga in Pana scoring charts as Greens rout Panionios

ATHENS (A1 Ethniki) - Panathinaikos got off to a flying start in the Greek play-offs over the weekend in a 92-57 rout of Panionios.

The Greens’ veteran forward Mike Batiste had even more to smile about.

The 32-year-old became the club's second all-time leading scorer when he poured in 12 points in the victory.

The American now has 2,292 points in a Panathinaikos shirt, more than third-place Dejan Bodiroga's 2,280.

It's going to take a very long time for him to catch Panathinaikos great Fragiskos Alvertis, though.

Alvertis, a former Greece international, retired after last season with an eye-popping 4,698 points.

"I need a second life to get Fragiskos," Batiste laughed.

Olympiacos, Maroussi and Panellinios also won their play-off openers.

Olympiacos, the Greek Cup champion and the country's representative in the Euroleague Final Four, defeated Aris 75-63.

Lithuania's Linas Kleiza poured in 19 points and Josh Childress 17 for Panagiotis Yannakis' team.

Maroussi outscored Colossos 33-8 in the first quarter and rolled to an 87-68 triumph in Athens.

Greece international Kostas Kaimakoglou scored 16 points in the victory with Jared Homan contributing 14, Pat Calathes 13 and William Keys 10.

Panellinios got 18 points from Devin Smith and beat P.A.O.K., 71-69.

P.A.O.K. would have won the game had they been merely average at the free-throw line.

Instead, they were atrocious and made just 10 of their 24 attempts.

The worst offender was Chris Monroe, who lived a Shaquille O'Neal-like four-of-13 nightmare at the charity stripe.

FIBA