Basket League

Panathinaikos is now alone in second on the Basket League table after beating crosstown rival AEK 77-68 on Sunday to stay one point behind leader Olympiakos.

The Greens had former AEK player Yiannis Bouroussis to thank for his performance that helped them overcome the strong resistance of visiting AEK in the first three quarters of the derby and inflict AEK's second league defeat.

Olympiakos defeated AEK at home on Saturday and is now alone on top of the Basket League with eight wins in as many games.

The Reds won 78-67 to inflict AEK's first league loss this season as its spectacular run came to an end. Led by Matt Lojeski (17 points), Olympiakos advanced by up to 21 points before AEK reduced the deficit in the end.

Panathinaikos shook off the two defeats within 48 hours in the Euroleague last week to beat host Aris in the Basket league on Monday and remain one point behind leaders Olympiakos and AEK.

Led by birthday-boy Chris Singleton (16 points), Panathinaikos overcame the Champions League challenger with a 71-59 score in what traditionally is one of the trickiest trips for the Athens giants.

AEK remained joint top of the Basket League as it came from 11 points down to beat host PAOK on Saturday for its first major victory in the league this season.

AEK won 78-71 thanks to a strong last period in Thessaloniki and has made it six victories out of six games.

Olympiakos emerged victorious from its challenge at Aris in Thessaloniki on Monday and remained tied at the top of the Basket League table with AEK, victor of Rethymo at home on Saturday.

Captain Vassilis Spanoulis distributed 11 assists and Olympiakos returned with a 70-63 triumph from one of its most difficult games on the road this season in the league.

Olympiakos confirmed it is a class above archrival Panathinaikos at this stage of the season, thrashing the Greens 88-63 on Monday in the first clash of the eternal rivals for the Basket League this season.

The new Basket League started in the weekend with new boys Doxa Lefkadas upsetting PAOK, as son beat father in the Markopoulos family's coaching battle.

Panathinaikos snatched home advantage from Olympiakos from the very start of the Basket League finals series with an 83-81 victory in Piraeus on Thursday, after one of the most spectacular games in the league's finals ever.

By George Georgakopoulos

Olympiakos had a harder time than expected in beating depleted Panathinaikos in Game 1 of the final series of the Basket League on Sunday, but will still be happy with the 76-70 result at the Peace and Friendship Stadium that maintains it as the clear favorite to win back the league title from its eternal rival.

By George Georgakopoulos

Olympiakos secured the top spot in the Basket League?s regular season through a 77-66 away win at Panathinaikos, sinking the Greens into all kinds of problems, including the sacking of its coach.