Plenty to consider for Basket League officials

A premature end to the Basket League season could see Panathinaikos handed the title, while the likes of Aris and PAOK could dodge a major bullet by avoiding relegation.

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Basket League officials have plenty to consider in future board meetings after the 2019//2020 was cancelled by the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) earlier this month.

Greece’s efficient response to the coronavirus pandemic was not enough to save the Basket League season as EOK officials confirmed the season was not viable to continue – not even behind closed doors.

The decision to cancel the remainder of the season means Basket League officials will need to decide on how the league will determine a champion for the 2020/2021 campaign, as well as what to do with the relegation situation.

ANOTHER TITLE FOR THE TRIFYLLI?

With six rounds of action remaining at the time of the season initially being suspended, Panathinaikos held a two-game lead over AEK for first place in the standings. The Athenian rivals split their season series during the regular season, including an AEK victory in the most recent encounter suggesting the gap between the two clubs closed greatly compared to the first Athenian Derby of the season.

AEK’s impressive campaign in the Basket League suggested the Enosi would have a strong chance at making the Basket League Finals, where a meeting with perennial finalists Panathinaikos would be a near certainty.

Panathinaikos’ grip on pole position in the league table will almost certainly allow Basket League officials to ratify the Trifylli as champions for the 2019/2020 season, which would be the club’s third-straight title if approved.

The likelihood of this decision being approved prompted Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos to release a statement indicating that the club did not want to be appointed champions for the current season.

SAVED BY THE… PANDEMIC?

At the other end of the table, the cancellation of the season could be a saving grace for both Aris and PAOK as the Thessaloniki were destined for a relegation battle heading into the final weeks of the season.

A turbulent season on-and-off the court for both clubs saw Aris and PAOK stuck in the Basket League basement for nearly the entirety of the season, with both sides sitting in the relegation zone at the time of the season being suspended back on 13 March.

Basket League chief Vangelis Galatsopoulos previously stated that he would not want to see any team relegated, saying that it would be unfair to “condemn” a team to relegation with six games left to play.

While Aris and PAOK were locked into the relegation zone, Aris were tied with Panionios for 13th at the time of the stoppage – though it was the Kyanerythri who held the tiebreaker.

OLYMPIACOS TO RETURN?

With relegation from the top flight unlikely, it remains to be seen what the Basket League will do in terms of promotion from the second tier. It’s highly possible that the Basket League will not accept any promotion from the A2 Basket League, meaning Messolonghi-based Charilaos Trikoupis will likely be on the raw end of the same deal that will spare Aris and PAOK.

Olympiacos were among the sides to compete in the A2 Basket League this season after the club opted to accept relegation as a consequence for their decision to forfeit three scheduled meetings with Panathinaikos out of protest to Greek refereeing.

The Erythrolefki were not in a position to win promotion back to the top flight when the A2 season was suspended, but the Piraeus side were almost certain to qualify for the playoffs for a shot at clinching a return to the top tier.

Olympiacos’ stance on a return to the top flight remains unclear, even if the club earned promotion to the top flight, since the changes the club lobbied for last season have yet to be implemented in the Basket League’s rules.

While it’s unknown what Olympiacos’ brass would decide in the event the club was promoted, the view of Basket League officials appears to welcome the idea of the club’s return to the top tier with Galatsopoulos stating “everyone is in favor of [Olympiacos’] participation in the league, because the top flight is its natural position.”

Olympiacos’ relegation to the second tier certainly came at a cost for both the club and the Basket League itself as both sides missed out much-needed revenue.

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