PAOK – Panathinaikos 1-3: Super Hernandez reached the semi-finals of the League Cup

The fourth team to secure a ticket to the semi-finals Panathinaikos won the League Cup. The Greens won a 3-1 set from PAOK in Thessaloniki and celebrated qualifying.

In the semifinals, the Greens meet Milos in doubles, while Olympiakos meets Foinikas in the other pair. The games will take place on January 18th and 21st.

The game: Panathinaikos was the one who came into play better and managed to build a five-point difference (5-10). From there, PAOK started eating up the difference with their serve as a weapon.

Dan Dries’ ace evened the set 18-18 and it was a point-to-point battle from there. Panathinaikos had two chances to finish the set, PAOK held and with a separate 3-0 with Rapti, Yorna and Costa made it 1-0 for 26-24.

The development of the second set was similar to that of the first, but with a different outcome. The greens were always in front of the goal, but in the final the hosts countered again.

This time Andreopoulos’ players were calmer and managed to close the set with Hernandez’s ace, making it 25-27.

From that point on, PAOK lost its spark while Panathinaikos increased its power. After Rangel and Frago gave a recital and a 12-8 lead, Panathinaikos climbed into the driver’s seat and stayed on for 25-21 from Petraea, Frago until the end of the set.

After the 2-1 set, PAOK collapsed and Panathinaikos quickly ran to an impressive 25-13, adding dimensions of triumph to their victory and qualification to the semi-finals, continuing their path in the competition where they aim to defend their title.

PAOK – Panathinaikos 1-3

The sentences: 26-24, 25-27, 21-25, 13-25

*PAOK points come from: 5 aces, 51 attacks, 6 blocks, 23 enemy errors and Panathinaikos points come from: 6 aces, 66 attacks, 6 blocks, 23 enemy errors.

PAOK (Josko Milenkoski): Day 9 p.m. (8/16f., 1 block, 53%f., 26%f.), Costa 9 (5/14f., 3 blocks, 1 ace), Walsh 2 (2 aces), Voulkidis 9 (8/ 10f., 1 block), Raptis 16 (15/32f., 35%f., 24%f.), Van de Dries 12 (10/31f., 1 block, 1 ace) / Kokkinakis (min. – 74% f., 47% no.), Takouridis, Gatsis, Butos 1 (1/1f.), Mouchlias 2 (2/4f.), Iliad.

PANATHINAIKOS (Dimitris Andreopoulos): Kovar 18 (17/31f., 72%f., 39%f.), Petraeus 9 (6/12f., 2 blocks, 1 ace), Jacobsen, Rangel 16 (12/16f., 3 blocks, 1 ace) , Frankos 12 (11/12, 63% pts, 37% pts), Hernandez 23 (20/35 pts, 1 block, 2 aces) / Zisis (l – 56% pts, 28% pts) , Bassis, Markos, Georgiou.