OPAP Basket League Round 4 of Second Stage

Host teams show no mercy winning all games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

OPAP Basket League round 4 caused change at the leadership position. Fourth defeat of league's leader AEK Larnaca (20-4) against third ranked Keravnos (20-4) 83-79 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of AEK Larnaca. It was a key game for the second position in the league. The hosts trailed by 2 points at the halftime before their 29-16 charge in the third quarter, which allowed them to win the game. Keravnos made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Jeffrey Crockett (201-1991, college: Texas Tech) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 7 rebounds. The former international point guard Filippos Tigkas (184-2002) contributed with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American guard Taveion Hollingsworth (188-1999, college: WKU) replied with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds for AEK Larnaca. Keravnos moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated AEK Larnaca. AEK Larnaca will play next round against league's leader Anorthosis trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Keravnos will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked AEL in Limassol.
OPAP Basket League top team - Anorthosis (21-3) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed sixth ranked Apollon (7-16) in Nicosia 116-72. Worth to mention a quality performance of the former international forward Georgios Tretiakov (195-2000) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 9 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) and Zayd Muosa who added 20 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Anorthosis' coach Antonis Konstantinides felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international point guard Stefanos Iliadis (185-1994, college: S.Florida) responded with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Anorthosis have an impressive 15-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 21-3 record. Apollon lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the sixth place with 16 games lost. Anorthosis will play against league's second-placed AEK Larnaca on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Apollon will play against Apoel (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 4 AEL was beaten by Apoel on the road 74-69.
The most impressive performance of 4th round was 31 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists by Jamari Blackmon of Apoel.



Keravnos - AEK Larnaca 83-79

OPAP Basket League round 4 caused change at the leadership position. Fourth defeat of league's leader AEK Larnaca (20-4) against third ranked Keravnos (20-4) 83-79 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of AEK Larnaca. It was a key game for the second position in the league. The hosts trailed by 2 points at the halftime before their 29-16 charge in the third quarter, which allowed them to win the game. Keravnos made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Jeffrey Crockett (201-1991, college: Texas Tech) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 7 rebounds. The former international point guard Filippos Tigkas (184-2002) contributed with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Four Keravnos players scored in double figures. American guard Taveion Hollingsworth (188-1999, college: WKU) replied with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and his fellow American import forward Christian Bishop (201-1999, college: Texas) added 15 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for AEK Larnaca. Keravnos moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated AEK Larnaca. AEK Larnaca will play next round against league's leader Anorthosis trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Keravnos will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked AEL in Limassol.
Top scorers:
Keravnos: J.Crockett 21+7reb+3ast, F.Tigkas 16+5reb+4ast, S.Reynolds Jr. 15+2reb+4ast, J.Jay Chandler III 14+3reb+2ast, T.Taylor 7+9reb+1ast, S.Michail 7+5reb+3ast
AEK Larnaca: T.Hollingsworth 19+10reb+1ast, C.Bishop 15+5reb+3ast, J.Patton 13+7reb+1ast, A.Sizopoulos 9+1ast, T.Brown 7+2ast, R.Mantovani 5+1reb

Anorthosis - Apollon 116-72

OPAP Basket League top team - Anorthosis (21-3) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed sixth ranked Apollon (7-16) in Nicosia 116-72. The game without a history. Anorthosis led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 92 of its points in the paint compared to Apollon's 24. They outrebounded Apollon 48-21 including a 16-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Anorthosis players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Apollon's players. Worth to mention a quality performance of the former international forward Georgios Tretiakov (195-2000) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 9 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) and international guard Zayd Muosa (199-2003, agency: Octagon Europe) who added 20 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Five Anorthosis players scored in double figures. Anorthosis' coach Antonis Konstantinides felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international point guard Stefanos Iliadis (185-1994, college: S.Florida) responded with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals and the former international swingman Grigoris Pantouris (190-1982) scored 25 points. Anorthosis have an impressive 15-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 21-3 record. Apollon lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the sixth place with 16 games lost. Anorthosis will play against league's second-placed AEK Larnaca on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Apollon will play against Apoel (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Anorthosis: M.Zayd 20+9reb+1ast, T.Georgios 20+9reb+2ast, G.Talton 14+2reb+6ast, A.Tompazos 12+1reb+2ast, L.Skinner 10+5reb+5ast, R.Eleftheriou 8+1reb+3ast
Apollon: S.Iliadis 26+8reb+4ast, G.Pantouris 25+4reb+2ast, K.Marios 15+1reb, T.Andreas 4+3reb+1ast, C.Jon 2+5reb+2ast, K.Grivas 0

Apoel - AEL 74-69

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fourth ranked Apoel's (16-8) home victory over 5th ranked AEL (13-11) in Nicosia 74-69. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 23-13. But AEL won third quarter 26-21. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of point guard Jamari Blackmon (183-2000, college: ULM) who helped to win the game recording 31 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Jayveous McKinnis (201-1999, college: Ole Miss) who added 17 points and 15 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side forward Tyrn Bryan Flowers (206-1998, college: LIU Brooklyn, agency: Green Sports Management) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 16 rebounds and Darrell Davis (196-1996, college: Dayton) scored 18 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Apoel maintains fourth position with 16-8 record. AEL at the other side keeps the fifth place with 11 games lost. Apoel will play against Apollon (#6) in Limassol in the next round. AEL will play at home against Keravnos and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Apoel: J.Blackmon 31+5reb+4ast, J.McKinnis 17+15reb+1ast, P.Papamichael 8+1reb+2ast, G.Kilaras 6+3reb+3ast, I.Giannaras 4+1reb+3ast, D.Georgakoudis 3+2ast
AEL: T.Bryan Flowers 23+16reb+2ast, D.Davis 18+3reb+4ast, J.Grant 7+1reb, A.Georgios 6+1ast, J.Shepherd 6+4reb+9ast, M.Georgiou 4+3reb+3ast