Finikas Syros – Panathinaikos 1-3: Green Qualifier to League Cup Final

Armed with the point he got from the first game in Maroussi (3-2), Panathinaikos won clearly 3-1 against the fighter Finikas in Syros and qualified as runners-up for the final of the League Cup “Nikos Samaras”. time in its history after 2020.

There, the Greens meet PAOK (who eliminated Olympiakos) in the doubles final, with the first game scheduled for 9 May in Thessaloniki.

In an ambiguous first set, Panathinaikos got a small difference in the start thanks to Charalambos Andreopoulos’ two aces. Finikas responded with Kapetanidis and Costas while they later got away with a 4-0 series with Andreas Frangos at gunpoint. Panathinaikos tipped it with a 5-0 run to take the first set.

The second was a monologue for the home side, who broke away and easily made it 1-1. There was a big surprise in the 3rd set when Finikas lost a clear lead that he kept until the middle. The problems in reception and development and the effective counterattack by Panathinaikos made all the difference.

In the fourth set, Panathinaikos took the lead with a small but important lead which he was able to hold until 16-14. It was there, as it turned out, to be the key point of the fight. Finikas with a 3-0 streak overtook 17:16 and 18:17, but Panathinaikos responded with a 3-0 winning streak that put him 20:18 ahead. Rangel’s block was crucial for the 22-19.

Kapetanidis reduced to 22-20, but Van de Dries kept the +3 difference to finish the set 25-22, with a 3-1 win and qualification for the doubles final.

THE SENTENCES: 1-3 (22-25, 25-12, 21-25, 22-25)