By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The newly established final phase of the Greek Cup, with the participation of eight teams in knockout games, will be held from Thursday, February 16, to Sunday, February 19, at “Dyo Aorakia” Gym in Heraklion, Crete.
Seven teams from the Greek Basket League, including Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Perister, PAOK, Kolossos, Aris, and AEK, as well as the winner of the newly formed UNICEF Trophy, Panionios, will fight for the trophy.
It’s the first time that the Greek Cup will be decided on a Final Eight. This format was not adopted earlier in Greece because of the potential ultras violence, and Peristeri coach Vasilis Spanoulis, participating in his first year at the club’s bench, is excited.
“It is logical to hold such events as it happens the rest of Europe. Here we consider it something crazy,” said during the official press conference Spanoulis who never had the chance to participate as a player on a Final-8 despite being one of the most accomplised players in the history of European basketball.
Of course, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos are the favorites. They won 30 Cups together, with PAO winning a record 20 of them.
As for the tickets, only junior basketball players registered with the federation and their parents can buy them, and those who bought online tickets for the prep games of the national team this past summer, but not the general public.
GREECE CUP 2023
FINAL 8 (16-19/2, Dyo Aorakia, Heraklion)
QUARTER-FINALS
Panionios- AEK (16/2)
Peristeri-PAOK (16/2)
Olympiacos – Aris (17/2)
Panathinaikos – Kolossos (17/2)
SEMI-FINALS
Panionios/ AEK – Peristeri/ PAOK (18/2)
Olympiacos / Aris – Panathinaikos / Kolossos (18/2)
FINAL
19/2