By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Wrapping up a best-of-three series in the Semifinals, Olympiacos progressed to the Finals of the Stoiximan Basket League Playoffs.
Defeating Peristeri bwin, 84-71, in Peristeri Arena on Saturday, the Reds finished the series in two games.
Overcoming shoe issues, Nikola Milutinov posted an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. Alec Peters tallied 20 points. Moustapha Fall (left foot) was sidelined along with unregistered Moses Wright, Ignas Brazdeikis, and Luke Sikma.
After scoring the first 14 points and remaining perfect from the field until 3:22 remaining in the first quarter, the team coached by Giorgos Bartzokas ballooned the advantage to 23 points. Replying to an explosive second quarter for Peristeri making it a five-point game, the reigning league and cup champions in Greece restored a double-digit advantage in the second half en route to a two-game sweep.
At the losing end, Joe Ragland recorded a game-high 21 points. Due to a calf injury in Game 1, Jermaine Love was ruled out of Game 2.
It is not the end of the road for the team coached by Vassilis Spanoulis. The 2023-24 campaign concludes with a single-elimination matchup for third place in the final rankings of Greece’s top-flight division.
Basket League Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
A – Panathinaikos Aktor – PAOK mateco 2-0 (84-66, 99-96)
B – Promitheas – Aris Midea 1-2 (79-60, 85-89, 87-88)
C – Olympiacos – AEK Betsson 2-0 (92-75, 100-68)
D – Peristeri bwin – Kolossos H Hotels 2-0 (79-63, 88-86)
Semifinals (best-of-three)
Panathinaikos Aktor – Aris Midea 1-0 (89-71)
Olympiacos – Peristeri bwin 2-0 (83-72, 84-71)
Third-place (single game)
Peristeri bwin – Loser of Panathinaikos Aktor vs. Aris Midea
Finals (best-of-five)
Olympiacos – Winner of Panathinaikos Aktor vs. Aris Midea