By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Welcomed and honored by Olympiacos, applauded by the fans at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Vassilis Spanoulis coaching Peristeri bwin was met by a large-margin loss, 101-79, against the team he spent the last 11 years of his legendary playing career.
Captain Kostas Sloukas posted a 23-point, 13-assist double-double in the Basket League contest held Sunday. The team coached by Giorgos Bartzokas overcame a sluggish start and trailing for most of the first quarter to blow out the visitors. Connecting 17/30 triples, including 5/5 from Sloukas, delivered the knockout.
Prior to the game wrapping up the Regular Season Round 2 of the Greek league, Spanoulis reunited with the owners of Olympiacos, as Giorgos and Panagiotis Angelopoulos recognized his massive success with the team. EuroLeague legend Giorgos Printezis was also in attendance.
“It felt strange to be in the visitors’ locker rooms”, admitted Spanoulis after the game.
Thomas Walkup was forced to an early exit due to injury. Kostas Papanikolaou and Joel Bolomboy were not available to play.
Earlier, Panathinaikos rolled Lavrio Megabolt, 93-70. Giorgos Papagiannis logged 15 points. Panagiotis Kalaitzakis and Lefteris Mantzoukas added 14 points each. Andrew Andrews and Nate Wolters were both out for the team coached by Dejan Radonjic. The Greens entered a six-way tie between teams at 1-1.
Setting his season-high at 34 points, Joe Young was all over the place leading Promitheas to the 97-84 victory against Ionikos.
Highlighting Saturday action was James Batemon with a crazy buzzer-beater.
Basket League Regular Season Round 2:
AEK – Apollon 83-68
Karditsa Viologiko Horio – Kolossos H Hotels 59-57
PAOK mateco – Aris 88-66
Panathinaikos – Lavrio Megabolt 93-70
Promitheas – Ionikos 97-84
Olympiacos – Peristeri bwin 101-79
STANDINGS: Olympiacos 4 (2-0), AEK 4 (2-0), Promitheas 4 (2-0)…