Rethymno plunge AEK into crisis
Rethymno claimed a shock victory against struggling AEK in the Basket League regular season, while Peristeri, Ionikos Nikaia, Panionios, Kolossos Rodou and Promitheas also tasted the winning feeling.
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RETHYMNO CRETAN KINGS 75-67 AEK
AEK seem to have smacked the self-destruct button. In five Basket League games, AEK have conceded four defeats, with the previous three being suffered in consecutive matches against Ifaistos Limnou, Peristeri and now Rethymno. AEK also lost to Hapoel Jerusalem in the Basketball Champions League midweek.
The Kitrinomavri were 13 down to Rethymno - who were winless in the Basket League prior to this game - after three quarters. To their credit, AEK did win the fourth period by five points, but Rethymno kept their Athenian opponents at bay to earn their maiden league win. Andreas Christodoulou (15 points) and Conner Frankamp (13 points) took a leading role.
PERISTERI 88-62 LAVRIO
Peristeri are turning into a winning machine. In what has been a fantastic start to the campaign, the suburb club easily maintained their unbeaten run across all competitions on Saturday, easing to a comfortable 88-62 victory against visitors Lavrio.
The game was over as a contest in the first quarter as Peristeri won it by a huge 20 points - 31-11.
Steven Gray stood out with 23 points to his name. Glynn Watson (15 points) was the only Lavrio player to reach double figures.
IONIKOS NIKAIA 68-64 LARISA
Larisa were close to their second win of the season. Following three quarters of play, the away team boasted a six-point advantage, but in-form Ionikos Nikaia launched a dramatic comeback to win the fourth period by 10 point and tally the victory.
Veteran Steven Burtt picked up 21 points for Ionikos. Having initially started the season with two losses, Ionikos Nikaia have beaten PAOK, Aris and now Larisa to earn three successive wins as they aim to assert their authority on the Basket League.
IRAKLIS 96-101 PANIONIOS
Before their pulsating win against Rethymno on matchday four, Panionios were in a seemingly hopeless situation, but they registered their second victory in a row on Saturday as the Nea Smryni organisation defeated Iraklis 101-96 in Thessaloniki.
Samardo Samuels scored 20 points for Panionios, while Dimitris Verginis drained four out of seven three-pointers. This is Iraklis’ first defeat in four matches.
KOLOSSOS RODOU 87-66 PAOK
Matters aren’t improving for the Dikefalos tou Vorra. Playing without any confidence, PAOK lost their fourth Basket League match of the campaign this Saturday, as they were comprehensively beaten 87-66 by Kolossos Rodou on the road. PAOK had tasted defeat in the Basketball Champions League on Tuesday.
The last time when PAOK won a match in any tournament was on October 5 against Larisa in Thessaloniki (87-61).
Mike Bruesewitz scored 20 points for the ever-improving Kolossos.
IFAISTOS LIMNOU 72-75 PROMITHEAS
They were close to another big victory. Not long ago, Ifaistos Limnou achieved a famous home victory against AEK, and they went down fighting to EuroCup participants Promitheas with a 75-72 defeat.
Promitheas, fresh from their first victory in the EuroCup, only won the first quarter against Ifaistos Limnou (23-18).
Oleksandr Lypovyy (18 points), Langston Hall (13 points) and former Olympiacos player Dimitris Agravanis (12 points) were on form for Promitheas in this game. Promitheas’ only Basket League defeat to date this season was conceded against Panathinaikos on October 13.
