AEK and Peristeri continue to impress; PAOK lose again
AEK and Peristeri continue to impress; PAOK lose again
AEK and Peristeri continued their solid form in the Basketball Champions League with important victories, while PAOK slumped to their second consecutive loss.
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AEK 91-78 HAPOEL JERUSALEM (GROUP B)
In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the group stage, AEK delivered the goods against Hapoel Jerusalem, winning three out of four quarters to emerge victorious 91-78 at the packed OAKA Indoor Hall.
Plenty of AEK fans moved across to the indoor arena after seeing the football team defeat Asteras Tripolis in the Super League earlier in the evening.
With the OAKA rocking, both teams immediately started playing effective attacking basketball, as AEK edged the first quarter 25-24. In the second, AEK extended their advantage by a further three points, but the Israeli visitors hit back with a 23-21 win in the third.
Nevertheless, AEK took charge of proceedings in the fourth, claiming it 23-12 to see out the crucial victory which takes them to first place of Group B.
Keith Langford, who is enjoying a wonderful season with the Kitrinomavri, tallied 18 points alongside Howard Sant-Roos. Jonas Maciulis also impressed with 16 points.
TaShawn Thomas grabbed 21 points for the away team.
In their next continental game, AEK will face Antwerp in Belgium, while Hapoel Jerusalem travel to RASTA Vechta.
VEF RIGA 64-71 PERISTERI (GROUP C)
Peristeri, fresh from famously defeating Panathinaikos in the Basket league at the weekend, picked up their third successive win in the Basketball Champions League with a seven-point victory at VEF Riga.
The Greeks put themselves firmly in the box seat by winning the first two quarters by a combined score of 44-30. However, VEF didn’t give up hope, and the Latvian hosts won the concluding two quarters as they did give Peristeri something to think about.
Yanick Moreira, Peristeri’s man of the moment, achieved a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Panagiotis Vasilopoulos and Will Hatcher both scored 15 points.
Struggling VEF, bottom of Group C with eight defeats in nine games, will next play Nymburk on the road in the competition. Peristeri, sitting in fourth position, will host Tenerife in Greece.
PAOK 80-89 SZOMBATHELY (GROUP D)
In the event of a victory, PAOK could have drawn level on points with Szombathely in Group D, but the Dikefalos tou Vorra slipped to a damaging 89-80 defeat in Thessaloniki.
PAOK are bottom of the group with three wins and six defeats in nine matches.
The damage was done in the first half. Playing without concentration in defence, PAOK allowed their Hungarian opponents to score 51 points in the maiden two quarters, while the Greeks could only register 37 points.
Adam Smith caught the eye for PAOK with 31 points.
PAOK will hope to get back to winning ways on matchday 10 when playing against Neptunas away from home. Szombathely will take on Zaragoza at home.
PROMITHEAS LOSE AT HOME
Promitheas, already assured of a place in the second round of the EuroCup, fell to a 80-66 defeat against MoraBanc Andorra in Patras. The Greeks had beaten the same opponents in Andorra on matchday five.
The Patras-organisation finished in fourth place of Group A with six wins and four defeats. Promitheas will now wait to discover their opponents in the Top 16.
by Shaun Nicolaides
Image Source: sport-fm.gr
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