FIBA Basketball
GRE - Pane nudge Maroussi out of contention
ATHENS (HEBA) - The race for the top seed in the Greek play-offs is between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos after Pana edged Maroussi. Maroussi, who lost to the Greens in the Greek Cup final earlier this season
ATHENS (HEBA) - The race for the top seed in the Greek play-offs is between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos after Pana edged Maroussi.
Maroussi, who lost to the Greens in the Greek Cup final earlier this season, slipped up against Zeljko Obradovic & Co in the league on Saturday, falling 78-73.
With two rounds remaining, Panathinaikos have 46 points to just 41 for Maroussi.
Olympiacos are second with 44 points after their victory at Panionios.
In the Maroussi game, Georgios Karagkoutis scored a basket with 42 seconds left to pull the visitors to within 75-72.
But they fouled Jaka Lakovic with 18 to play and he made both shots from the stripe for a five-point Pana edge.
Panathinaikos, who have won seven of the last eight Greek titles, held on for the triumph.
Olympiacos suffered a narrow defeat in their best-of-three Euroleague quarter-final to Maccabi Tel Aviv but they haven't given up hope of claiming silverware this season.
Under Lithuanian coach Jonas Kazlauskas, who will coach China at this summer's FIBA World Championship, the famous Olympiacos battling spirit has returned for the Piraeus team.
Trailing Panionios 66-61 early in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Olympiacos went on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to take control.
Quincy Lewis made six of nine three-pointers and finished with 26 points for Olympiacos.
PA Sport, exclusively for FIBA.com
Maroussi, who lost to the Greens in the Greek Cup final earlier this season, slipped up against Zeljko Obradovic & Co in the league on Saturday, falling 78-73.
With two rounds remaining, Panathinaikos have 46 points to just 41 for Maroussi.
Olympiacos are second with 44 points after their victory at Panionios.
In the Maroussi game, Georgios Karagkoutis scored a basket with 42 seconds left to pull the visitors to within 75-72.
But they fouled Jaka Lakovic with 18 to play and he made both shots from the stripe for a five-point Pana edge.
Panathinaikos, who have won seven of the last eight Greek titles, held on for the triumph.
Olympiacos suffered a narrow defeat in their best-of-three Euroleague quarter-final to Maccabi Tel Aviv but they haven't given up hope of claiming silverware this season.
Under Lithuanian coach Jonas Kazlauskas, who will coach China at this summer's FIBA World Championship, the famous Olympiacos battling spirit has returned for the Piraeus team.
Trailing Panionios 66-61 early in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Olympiacos went on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to take control.
Quincy Lewis made six of nine three-pointers and finished with 26 points for Olympiacos.
PA Sport, exclusively for FIBA.com