Olympiacos Champions in Basketball Too – Lifts the Trophy at SEF in Club’s 100th Year
Olympiacos Piraeus is once again champion of Greece, clinching the Stoiximan Basket League title with a 3-1 series win over archrival Panathinaikos. The Reds secured their 15th Greek basketball championship in front of a packed SEF, celebrating the club’s centenary year in the best possible way — with trophies in both football and basketball.
After losing Game 1 at OAKA, Olympiacos made a stunning comeback, winning three straight games and reclaiming the title after a year-long absence from the top.
At the final buzzer of Game 4, emotions overflowed as fans and players celebrated together, while club owners Giorgos and Panagiotis Angelopoulos flooded the locker room with congratulations. “This was the grittiest championship yet,” they told the players.
A special moment came with Shaquielle McKissic, who had hinted at retirement after a tough season. However, after his spectacular performance in the decisive final and overwhelmed with joy, he announced he’ll continue — inspired by Olympiacos’ glorious triumph.
Olympiacos won the Greek championship for the 15th time, beating Panathinaikos 85-71 in the 4th final game. Despite missing key players like Nigel Williams-Goss, Mustafa Fall, and Sasha Vezenkov due to injuries, Olympiacos delivered a commanding performance at home to secure the title. Strong contributions from McKissic, Dorsey, and Milutinov helped them overcome Panathinaikos, who relied heavily on Nan’s 18 points but never found answers to stop Olympiacos. The Reds controlled the game from early on, building a double-digit lead and maintaining their advantage throughout, turning the SEF arena into a celebration of their 15th championship.
With under two minutes remaining, Olympiacos leads Panathinaikos 82-65 in Game 4 of the finals. Kendrick Nunn earned a trip to the free throw line after cutting the deficit, but Olympiacos remained in control. Tensions flared as Olympiacos accused Lesort of making an obscene gesture toward the home crowd while heading to the locker room.
Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman was assessed a technical foul after entering the court to protest a foul called on Kendrick Nunn.
The fourth quarter has begun at SEF, and Olympiacos holds a solid 68-54 lead over Panathinaikos, thanks to explosive plays by Shaquielle McKissic and Tyler Dorsey, who now has 17 points. Panathinaikos briefly cut the margin with a basket from Sloukas, but the Reds responded immediately. Tensions rose as Panathinaikos protested a timing issue at the end of the third quarter, claiming the game clock had frozen. Just over nine minutes remain in the final period.
With just under four minutes left in the third quarter, Panathinaikos cut the deficit to nine points after a basket from Kendrick Nunn, who also picked up his third offensive foul. Olympiacos quickly responded with Evan Fournier scoring to push the lead back to 12, making it 57-45. The Reds continue to hold control as the clock winds down in the third.
The second half of Game 4 at SEF is underway, with Olympiacos starting strong as Tyler Dorsey nailed a three-pointer to open the third quarter. Meanwhile, coach Giorgos Bartzokas confirmed to ERT that Sasha Vezenkov is being examined in the locker room after his earlier injury scare. Just before the break, Vezenkov had to leave the game due to an apparent ankle issue. Yurtseven was called for a foul on Milutinov early in the third, as both teams look to gain momentum in this crucial matchup.
Olympiacos leads Panathinaikos 42-38 at halftime in Game 4 of the Basket League Finals at SEF, but concern grew as Sasha Vezenkov was forced to leave the game with an apparent ankle injury after an accidental collision with Grant. The game saw back-and-forth action, with McKissic and Juancho Hernangómez trading big three-pointers, and Fournier sinking two free throws late in the second quarter. Yurtseven and Grant contributed from the line, while Sloukas had to sit after picking up his third foul. The first half ended with Olympiacos in control but Panathinaikos still within striking distance.
Olympiacos extended its lead to 35-24 midway through the second quarter of Game 4 at SEF. Milutinov delivered a powerful dunk to ignite the crowd, while McKissic added a key basket that forced Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman to call a timeout. Earlier, Milutinov also went to the line, hitting one of two free throws. Vezenkov took a hit to the face and asked to be subbed out, and Walkup picked up his second foul, prompting coach Bartzokas to make a change. The atmosphere remains intense as the Reds maintain control.
Olympiacos has taken a 19-13 lead midway through the first quarter of Game 4 at SEF, thanks in part to two early three-pointers from Sloukas. Despite missing his latest attempt from beyond the arc, his sharpshooting helped Olympiacos build momentum. Walkup added a crucial three-point play, converting the basket and the free throw to extend the lead. Earlier, Panathinaikos had briefly gone ahead 13-12, but Olympiacos quickly responded to regain control. With four minutes remaining in the quarter, the game remains intense and tightly contested.
The fourth game of the finals between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos is underway at SEF. Olympiacos won the tip-off and struck first with a three-pointer from Papanikolaou. Panathinaikos responded quickly with a triple from Grant, leveling the score at 3-3.
Milutinov then added a basket to give Olympiacos a slight edge at 5-3, but Sloukas answered with another three to put Panathinaikos ahead 6-5. Early on, both teams are trading blows, with some missed opportunities including a three-point airball from Yurtseven. Nunn is now heading to the free-throw line for two shots.
The stage is set for the highly anticipated Greek basketball finals, tipping off in just 20 minutes at SEF. Excitement is high and the arena is packed under tight security. Olympiacos fans proudly wave Greek flags, while Panathinaikos supporters have placed theirs behind the team bench. Emotional moments included a warm ovation for Olympiacos star Nikola Milutinov and a moving tribute to French player Evan Fournier, who was greeted like a hero during warm-ups. Fournier, flawless in his shooting, was even depicted on fan gear as a modern-day revolutionary figure.
On the sidelines, celebrities like Markos Seferlis and his family were spotted, adding to the spectacle. Olympiacos will be without key players Fall, Wright, and Goss, while Panathinaikos counts on Gabriel, Lessort, and Grigonis. PAO coach Christos Serelis spoke to ERT, wishing Fall a speedy recovery and affirming his team came to SEF to fight for a win and force a decisive game back at OAKA. If Olympiacos wins tonight, the trophy presentation will take place right here at SEF.
The atmosphere is electric ahead of Game 4 in the Greek Basket League Finals as Olympiacos hosts Panathinaikos at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF). With Olympiacos leading the series 2-1, a win tonight would secure the championship title, while Panathinaikos fights to push the series to a decisive Game 5 at OAKA.
High Stakes Showdown
Olympiacos, having stolen home-court advantage with a crucial win in Game 2 and then following it up with a stunning performance in OAKA, is now just one victory away from lifting the trophy in front of their home crowd. The Piraeus-based club is rallying its fans to bring the passion without crossing the line, releasing a statement urging respect and fair play.
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos—who dominated the regular season going 22-0—is now on the brink of elimination. They took the first game of the series at home but have since struggled, dropping two straight. Tonight is their final shot to level the series and defend their home turf one more time in Game 5.
Key Players Return
Both teams have been rocked by disciplinary and injury-related issues, but will enter tonight’s game nearly at full strength:
- Olympiacos will play without French center Moustapha Fall, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in Game 3 and is out for a year. Nikola Milutinov is the only natural center available for coach Giorgos Bartzokas. However, Evan Fournier will be available after escaping with just a fine for a controversial gesture in Game 3.
- Panathinaikos, despite Olympiacos’ official complaints, will have Kendrick Nunn on the roster after the league’s sports judge did not issue a suspension. Coach Ergin Ataman has made a key lineup change, bringing Lorenzo Brown into the 12-man squad at the expense of Gabriel, choosing more ball-handling and perimeter versatility.
The 12-Man Rosters
Olympiacos:
Walkup, Mitrou-Long, Lee, Dorsey, Larentzakis, Vildoza, Fournier, Papanikolaou, McKissic, Vezenkov, Peters, Milutinov
Panathinaikos:
Kalaitzakis, Brown, Moraitis, Sloukas, Osman, Samonturov, Papapetrou, Grant, Nunn, Hernangomez, Mitoglou, Yurtseven.
The Referees
Game 4 will be officiated by Papapetrou, Tsimpouris, and Tiganis. Notably, Papapetrou was also involved in Game 3, a decision that sparked reaction from Panathinaikos’ owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos. He publicly questioned the judgment of the federation, though he clarified he holds no personal grudge against the referee.
Security and Crowd Guidelines
Olympiacos issued strict instructions for fans attending tonight’s game. Entry will only be permitted with personalized tickets and valid ID, which must match the information on the Gov.gr Wallet. The club emphasized that any misbehavior—including use of flares, offensive chants, or disorderly conduct—will be recorded by high-resolution security cameras and punished according to law.
Parking procedures and gate opening times (from 18:30) were also clarified to avoid congestion and ensure smooth entry for the sold-out crowd.
What’s at Stake
This could be a night of glory for Olympiacos if they clinch the title at home. For Panathinaikos, it’s all about survival. A win tonight would shift the pressure back to the Reds and set the stage for a dramatic Game 5 finale.
With both Fournier and Nunn in uniform and the rivalry at its peak, fans can expect a fiery battle on the hardwood. Tip-off at 21:00 local time — basketball fans, buckle up.
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