GRE/NZL - Diamantidis brilliant; No New Zealand Breaking point

ATHENS (Euroleague/NBL/Olympics) - Dimitris Diamantidis wrote another glorious chapter in his magnificent career on Thursday by leading Panathinaikos past Maccabi Tel Aviv and into the Euroleague Final Four.

The former Greece international had 25 points, including the go-ahead free-throw with five seconds remaining, and then came up with a steal to seal the 86-85 victory in Athens.

Meanwhile, the Tall Blacks in the New Zealand Breakers squad were influential in the team’s Game 2 win at Townsville Crocs.

The 93-83 victory has set up a Game 3 decider for Saturday in New Zealand.

Diamantidis the Great

Greece fans are hoping that Diamantidis will reconsider his retirement and play for the country again this summer when they attempt to reach the Olympics in London through the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela.

Diamantidis decided to quit playing international basketball after his country’s elimination at the World Championship in Turkey but has remained one of the best players in the sport.

The point guard did most of his damage at the line on Thursday against Maccabi, making 15 of 18 free-throws.

Maccabi boss David Blatt, whose team lost to Diamantidis and Panathinaikos in last year’s Final, said: "Details decided the winner, and also Dimitris Diamantidis, who is my nemesis.

"I like him as a person, but I don't want to see him in front of me in the future.

"He is a great player.

"He was named the 2011 MVP and he can be it again.

"Big players show up in crucial games. I would like to lock him in his hotel room."

Lithuania veteran Sarunas Jasikevicius was the only other Panathinaikos player to reach double figures with 13 points.

Maccabi's Greek international Sofoklis Schortsanitis had eight points and two rebounds in just under 11 minutes.

Panathinaikos will meet CSKA on the opening day (11 May) of the Final Four in Istanbul.

Breakers avoid elimination

The New Zealand Breakers are still in the hunt for a second straight NBL title after winning Game 2 of their semi-final series at Townsville Crocs.

Thomas Abercrombie was just one of eight from the field for the Breakers but did get to the free-throw line often and made all 10 of his attempts.

Abercrombie will play at the OQT and so will his fellow New Zealand Tall Black Alex Pledger, who had 12 points on Thursday.

Game 3 will be played in New Zealand on Saturday.

FIBA