By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Georgios Barzokas had a memorable birthday as Olympiacos Piraeus emerged victorious in Game 3 of the Greek finals. His team convincingly defeated Panathinaikos Athens 75-52, securing a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Kostas Sloukas returned to the lineup for Olympiacos after recovering from a stomach flu that caused him to miss Game 2. He made an immediate impact, leading his team with 14 points. Shaquille Mckissic and Moustapha Fall also contributed with 11 points each.
Despite suffering an injury in the previous match, Sasha Vezenkov made a timely recovery and played 20 minutes in Game 3, scoring seven points.
On the losing side, Marius Grigonis led Panathinaikos with 13 points, followed by Paris Lee with 11.
After a close first quarter where Olympiacos trailed 18-19, they stepped up their defensive efforts. Their tightened defense proved effective as they allowed only nine points in the second quarter, taking a 36-28 lead at halftime.
Carrying their momentum into the third period, Olympiacos continued to extend their advantage. They started the final quarter with a commanding 62-41 lead and comfortably closed out the game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was in the stands of the Peace and Friendship Arena in Piraeus to watch Game 3. The NBA superstar was not alone; he was accompanied by his brother Alex and the Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff, including the new head coach, Adrian Griffin.
Greek finals (best-of-five):
Game 1: Olympiacos – Panathinaikos 73-30
Game 2: Panathinaikos – Olympiacos 67-65
Game 3: Olympiacos – Panathinaikos 75-52
Game 4: Panathinaikos – Olympiacos (15/06)
* Game 5: Olympiacos – Panathinaikos (18/06)
* – if necessary