By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Tensions have escalated dramatically in Greece following an Olympiacos win over Panathinaikos Aktor at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Game 1 of the Stoiximan GBL Finals 2026 on Wednesday.
The heated aftermath began in the early hours of the following morning when the Greens issued an official statement.
Per the press release: “We fully understand the anger of Panathinaikos supporters, reflected in the thousands of messages we have received over the past few hours, and we share it completely.
For the greatest club in Europe, its illustrious history and its millions of supporters, neither self-degradation nor relegation to the second division can ever be considered an appropriate response — whether by refusing to participate in a game or by denying the State Broadcaster the right to televise one of our home matches.
As Panathinaikos BC AKTOR, we are committed to fighting until the very end for the championship on the court, with our fans as both our shield and our highest priority. Together, we will fight with all our strength for what we rightfully deserve. For our greatness.
The question remains: how much longer will the Government continue to turn a deaf ear to everything that has been taking place in Greek basketball over the past few years?
Those who criticized the previous administration of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) as part of the establishment — what do they have to say about the current administration, which was elected under circumstances everyone remembers during the tenure of former Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris Avgenakis, and under whose watch we continue to witness games such as the first Championship Final, all with the tolerance of the State?
Let all sports fans be assured that, once this season’s Championship has concluded, we will do what we owe to the history, the supporters and the moral responsibility of Panathinaikos, as well as to Greek basketball as a whole, at every level.
P.S. How would anyone view a situation in which a referee (male or female), who is facing criminal proceedings, is assigned to officiate games involving the team that filed the legal complaint against him or her?”
Ανακοίνωση ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR
Αντιλαμβανόμαστε πλήρως την οργή των φιλάθλων του Παναθηναϊκού μέσα από τα χιλιάδες μηνύματα που δεχόμαστε τις τελευταίες ώρες την οποία και συμμεριζόμαστε απολύτως.
Για τον μεγαλύτερο Σύλλογο της Ευρώπης, τη λαμπρή του ιστορία και τα… pic.twitter.com/r9HNsfTAqF
— Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) June 3, 2026
The Reds offered an immediate, silent rebuttal on social media, posting a video and freeze-frame photograph of Kendrick Nunn’s defense on Evan Fournier with 44 seconds remaining and the score at 75–73. Captioned simply with “no comment needed…”, the post apparently aimed to show the play as crystal clear. The French superstar converted those free throws, and a subsequent Thomas Walkup three-pointer sealed the 1-0 series lead.
Δεν χρειάζεται κάποιο σχόλιο…#OlympiacosBC pic.twitter.com/pXS5AcUpLs
— Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) June 3, 2026
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos took to Instagram with a series of stories targeting a perceived free-throw disparity at SEF, lamenting that it is a shame for Greece to boast the EuroLeague champion yet suffer from such a poor level of domestic officiating, and tagging the governing New Democracy political party.
The best-of-five series to decide the next Greek League champion now moves to the Telekom Center Athens for Game 2 on Friday.
GBL Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
Olympiacos – Kolossos H Hotels Collection 2-0 (117-76, 97-58)
AEK – Aris Betsson 2-1 (87-81, 81-90, 102-99)
Panathinaikos Aktor – Mykonos Betsson 2-0 (99-75, 90-76)
PAOK – Peristeri Betsson 2-0 (91-79, 77-72)
Semifinals (best-of-three)
Olympiacos – AEK 2-0 (94-77, 95-68)
Panathinaikos Aktor – PAOK 2-0 (114-102, 102-94)
Finals (best-of-five)
Olympiacos – Panathinaikos Aktor 1-0 (82-76)
Make 
Your Preferred Basketball Source.
Add Eurohoops to Google