Panathinaikos is the first leader of the U-19 Greek Final Round, held in Trikala (Greece), after beating Panserraikos (51-75) in the opener of the event. The power inside the paint of 2.17 center Giannis Dimakopoulos ('94) and 2.06 Kiprianos Maragkos ('94), at the pic, -both two years younger than most of the prospects there- was too much for the rival, scoring 14 and 19 points respectively. Aris, the other favorite, started well defeating Ikaros Kallitheas (60-55) with rising-star Lynos Chrysikopoulos ('92) nailing 16 points. Efstathios Papadionisiou ('92) ended as the best scorer of the losing effort with 15.

 

What happened in the last contest? AGS Ioanninon beat Elassonas (67-50) behind 17 points from Ioannis Anagnostakis ('94), the second best scorer of last year U-16 Greek Final Round with 25.4 points. His teammate Panagiotis Thadis ('93) added 16. In the second day the games will be: Panathinaikos - Ioanninon, Ikaros - Panserraikos and Elassonas - Aris. Chrysikopoulos can miss Aris game due to a light injury.

 

Standings: Panathinaikos, Ioanninon and Aris (1-0), Ikaros Kallitheas, Elassonas and Panserraikos (0-1).