Olympiacos hits first in Greek league final against Panathinaikos

Olympiacos, recent Euroleague champion, won this Wednesday the first game of the final series of the Greek league against Panathinaikos, without the Spanish Juancho Hernangómez, by 82-76.

The Piraeus team, which recorded 24 victories and not a single defeat in the first phase of the competition, used the home field factor in its favor and won 1-0 in the series, played in the best of three, at the Peace and Friendship Pavilion.

Despite gaining a lead of 17 points in the third quarter, the locals suffered more than expected against Panathinaikos, who had several possessions to take the lead on the scoreboard in the final minutes of the match.

Fournier, named MVP of the Euroleague Final Four, was the best of his team with 20 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. The top scorer was Turkish Cedi Osman, from Panathinaikos, with 23.

The Athenian team, coached by Ergin Ataman, did not have regular players in the rotation such as the Spanish Juancho Hernangómez, Kostas Sloukas, Marius Grigonis or Kenneth Faried.

Now, the series will move to OAKA, home of Panathinaikos, for the second duel, which if it ends with a visitor victory, would proclaim Olympiacos, coached by Georgios Bartzokas, champion.