By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Aris came back from a 19-point deficit to upset Panathinaikos OPAP, 81-71, on Sunday.
Canadian guard Olivier Hanlan was the driving force for the hosts packing a career-high 35 points. He had 13/19 field goals, including 4/8 from beyond the arc in his 2021-22 debut. Youngster Omiros Netzipoglou had 13 points and six rebounds. Shakur Juiston threw in 12 more points.
The Greens were up 19 points at halftime after dominating the second quarter, 23-9. The turnaround saw them getting outscored, 57-28, after the break of the Stoiximan Basket League Regular Season Round 1 affair. Kendrick Perry and Okaro White shared a team-high 12 points.
Earlier, Olympiacos in the first game back in the top-flight division after two years rocked AEK, 103-78. Red-hot Sasha Vezenkov recorded a 27-point, 11-rebound double-double in the victory at home. On the losing end, Stevan Jelovac went for a team-high 21 points.
Nikos Diplaros posted a 24-point, 10-assist double-double and also grabbed six assists as Apollon Oscar defeated Ionikos, 80-72, in other Sunday action. Orlando Coleman added 22 points for the winners. Eugene German had 22 points for the losing side.
Stoiximan Basket League Regular Season Round 1 results:
PAOK mateco – Lavrio Megabolt 73-89
Larissa – Kolossos H Hotels 81-77
Peristeri Vitabiotics – Promitheas 81-88
Olympiacos – AEK 103-78
Apollon Oscar – Ionikos HNC Revolution 80-72
Aris – Panathinaikos OPAP 81-71