2018–19 Greek Basket League

The 2018–19 Greek betshop.gr Basket League was the 79th season of the Greek Basket League, the top-tier level professional club basketball league in Greece. The season started on 7 October 2018, and ended on 15 June 2019. Panathinaikos OPAP won the Greek Basket League championship for a record 37th time, after beating Promitheas Patras 3–0 in the Finals.

Greek Basket League
Competition details
Season 2018–19
Teams 14
Dates 7 October 2018 – 15 June 2019
Final positions
Champions Panathinaikos OPAP
Runners-up Promitheas Patras
Relegated Olympiacos
Awards
MVP Nick Calathes

The season infamously featured a major feud between traditional rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiacos over refereeing decisions in the 2019 Greek Cup semifinals game between the two teams,[1] which eventually culminated in Olympiacos also forfeiting their playoffs, and being relegated to the second tier level 2019–20 Greek A2 Basket League for the first time since 1964.[2]

Teams

Promotion and relegation
Relegated from the Greek betshop.gr Basket League 2017–18 season

Koroivos[3] and Trikala Aries[4] were relegated, after finishing in the last two places in the 2017–18 season.

Promoted from the A2 Basket League 2017–18 season

The first club that was promoted was Peristeri, which won its third A2 Basket League championship, after finishing with a 29–1 record, in the 2017–18 season.[5] The second team to be promoted was Holargos, as the winners of the promotion play-offs.[6] Holargos defeated Apollon Patras 3–0, in the finals of the play-offs.

Locations and arenas
Location of clubs for the 2018–19 Greek Basket League season.
Club Location Arena Capacity App.
AEK Athens (Marousi) OAKA Indoor Hall 18,500[7] 62
Aris Thessaloniki Alexandrio Melathron 5,138 65
Holargos Athens (Cholargos) Antonis Tritsis Indoor Hall 1,665 1
Ifaistos Lemnos Myrina Nikos Samaras Indoor Hall 2,300 1
Kolossos H Hotels Rhodes Venetoklio Indoor Hall 1,242[8] 13
Kymi Chalkida Tasos Kampouris Kanithou Indoor Hall 1,620 3
Lavrio Aegean Cargo Lavrio Lavrio Indoor Hall 1,700 4
Olympiacos Piraeus Peace and Friendship Stadium 12,000[9] 66
Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (Marousi) OAKA Indoor Hall 18,500[7] 69
Panionios Athens (Nea Smyrni) Sofia Befon Indoor Hall 1,204[10] 50
PAOK Thessaloniki (Pylaia) PAOK Sports Arena 8,162[11] 62
Peristeri Vikos Cola Athens (Peristeri) Peristeri Arena 4,000 23
Promitheas Patras Patras Dimitris Tofalos Arena 4,150 3
Rethymno Cretan Kings Rethymno Melina Merkouri Sports Arena 1,600 9

Personnel and Sponsorship
Club Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor
AEK Luca Banchi Dušan Šakota Fila Betshop.gr
Aris Ioannis Kastritis Lefteris Bochoridis Spalding -
Holargos Aris Lykogiannis Toarlyn Fitzpatrick BillyBro BoConcept
Ifaistos Limnou Sotiris Manolopoulos Sotirios Manolopoulos GSA Sport -
Kolossos H Hotels Stergios Koufos Ioannis Georgallis Fila Aegean Airlines
Kymi Isidoros Koutsos Stavros Toutziarakis Nickan -
Lavrio Aegean Cargo Christos Serelis Michalis Perrakis Athios Advanced Hair Clinics
Olympiacos David Blatt Vassilis Spanoulis Nike bwin
Panathinaikos OPAP Rick Pitino Nick Calathes Adidas Pame Stoixima
Panionios Vassilis Fragkias Nikos Diplaros Nickan -
PAOK Ilias Papatheodorou Vangelis Margaritis Erreà Watt+Volt
Peristeri Vikos Cola Argyris Pedoulakis Panagiotis Vasilopoulos Flex One Vikos Cola
Promitheas Patras Makis Giatras Nikos Gkikas Athios Medfrigo
Rethymno Cretan Kings Vangelis Ziagkos Antreas Christodoulou Nickan -


Head coaching changes
TeamOutgoing Head CoachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced withDate of appointment
Panionios Vangelis Alexandris End of contract 18 May 2018[12] Preseason Thanasis Skourtopoulos 29 June 2018[13]
Ifaistos Limnou Thanasis Skourtopoulos End of contract 1 June 2018 Preseason Sotiris Manolopoulos 8 June 2018[14]
AEK Dragan Šakota Promoted to General Manager 6 June 2018[15] Preseason Luca Banchi 1 July 2018[16]
Olympiacos Ioannis Sfairopoulos End of contract 18 June 2018[17] Preseason / David Blatt 27 June 2018[18]
Panionios Thanasis Skourtopoulos Re-signed 28 August 2018[19] Preseason Chris Chougkaz 2 September 2018[20]
Panionios Chris Chougkaz Re-signed 30 October 2018[21] 11th (1-3) Vassilis Fragkias 31 October 2018[22]
Panionios Vassilis Fragkias Re-signed 21 November 2018[23] 9th (2-4) Nikos Oikonomou 24 November 2018[24]
Kolossos H Hotels Nikos Vetoulas Sacked 22 November 2018[25] 12th (1–5) Kostas Flevarakis 1 December 2018[26]
Kymi Ioannis Kastritis Sacked 25 November 2018[27] 13th (1–6) Isidoros Koutsos 26 November 2018[28]

Regular season

League table
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 AEK 26 18 8 2129 1995 +134 44 Advanced to playoffs
2 Peristeri Vikos Cola 26 17 9 2009 1977 +32 43[lower-alpha 1]
3 Panathinaikos OPAP[lower-alpha 2] 26 24 2 2151 1668 +483 43[lower-alpha 1]
4 Promitheas Patras 26 16 10 2003 1907 +96 42
5 PAOK 26 15 11 1992 1955 +37 41
6 Olympiacos[lower-alpha 3] 26 23 3 2108 1708 +400 40
7 Ifaistos Limnou 26 13 13 1914 1995 −81 39
8 Holargos 26 12 14 1850 1899 −49 38
9 Aris 26 8 18 1811 1883 −72 34[lower-alpha 4]
10 Rethymno Cretan Kings 26 8 18 1906 2053 −147 34[lower-alpha 4]
11 Panionios 26 8 18 1950 2210 −260 34[lower-alpha 4]
12 Kymi 26 8 18 1899 2100 −201 34[lower-alpha 4]
13 Lavrio Aegean Cargo (R) 26 7 19 1997 2123 −126 33 Relegated to Greek A2 League
14 Kolossos H Hotels (R) 26 5 21 1958 2204 −246 31
Source: ESAKE
(R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Peristeri Vikos Cola and Panathinaikos OPAP finished tied with 43 points. The two clubs split their head to head season series 1–1. Peristeri won the head to head point differential in their two games against Panathinaikos OPAP by 3 points.
  2. Panathinaikos OPAP did not receive a point for their forfeited loss to Kymi. As a punishment for forfeiting the game, Panathinaikos was deducted 6 points in the league standings.
  3. Olympiacos did not receive a point for their forfeited loss to Panathinaikos OPAP. As a punishment, Olympiacos was deducted 8 points in the league standings.[29][30]
  4. Aris, Rethymno Cretan Kings, Panionios, and Kymi finished tied with 34 points. The tie breakers resulted with Aris in 9th place, Rethymno in 10th place, Panionios in 11th place, and Kymi in 12th place.

Results
Home \ Away AEK ARIS HOL IFA KOL KYMI LAV OLY PAO PNN PAOK PER PRO RET
AEK — 81–73 73–63 83–69 94–79 96–92 83–64 67–76 72–104 73–62 91–71 96–70 83–62 82–62
Aris 77–81 — 58–59 65–54 75–81 95–60 84–70 64–68 70–84 79–56 58–62 62–68 66–65 81–87
Holargos 70–81 76–63 — 65–62 74–60 73–66 82–71 68–73 64–81 74–73 74–68 75–76 57–69 66–61
Ifaistos Limnou 74–87 73–64 72–70 — 82–76 81–74 80–76 53–73 62–84 86–64 80–79 77–73 82–67 77–80
Kolossos H Hotels 69–106 61–72 75–81 60–78 — 97–90 76–80 67–86 78–88 106–109 60–75 77–84 68–83 74–63
Kymi 67–78 75–57 57–66 90–83 91–86 — 89–88 74–77 62–87 92–82 73–90 56–87 86–82 77–84
Lavrio Aegean Cargo 94–100 70–73 76–69 96–76 74–70 86–68 — 76–81 55–80 90–60 64–77 83–55 73–85 93–94
Olympiacos 101–75 76–67 88–78 83–46 95–74 92–69 102–63 — 0–20 98–72 80–59 92–69 86–59 84–60
Panathinaikos OPAP 111–79 85–65 86–64 93–65 95–68 0–20 108–63 79–70 — 96–71 89–51 80–75 87–76 88–64
Panionios 78–74 70–66 90–110 76–93 88–80 89–93 101–91 65–101 67–88 — 69–73 77–75 60–74 88–72
PAOK 88–79 95–79 80–73 73–75 79–83 78–60 99–88 68–78 83–93 83–73 — 87–73 81–56 81–64
Peristeri Vikos Cola 83–80 81–61 71–62 89–81 73–70 94–93 87–78 81–76 80–72 74–71 83–65 — 79–86 80–64
Promitheas Patras 79–69 71–61 86–61 73–68 101–95 94–61 71–63 77–80 69–86 104–67 82–59 73–76 — 86–81
Rethymno Cretan Kings 57–66 74–76 83–76 82–85 93–67 78–64 72–77 58–92 75–87 65–72 78–88 83–73 72–73 —
Source: ESAKE
Colours: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with background in a lighter colour were decided after overtime.

Playoffs

The eight highest ranked teams in the regular season qualified for the playoffs. All series will be played with a 2–2–1 format.

Bracket
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
AEK2
 
 
 
Holargos1
 
AEK2
 
 
 
Promitheas Patras3
 
Promitheas Patras2
 
 
 
PAOK0
 
Panathinaikos OPAP3
 
 
 
Promitheas Patras0
 
Peristeri Vikos Cola2
 
 
 
Ifaistos Limnou1
 
Peristeri Vikos Cola0
 
 
 
Panathinaikos OPAP3 Third place
 
Panathinaikos OPAPw/o 1
 
 
 
Olympiacos
 
AEK3
 
 
Peristeri Vikos Cola1
 

Quarterfinals
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg
AEK 2–1 Holargos 84–62 72–88 88–75
Peristeri Vikos Cola 2–1 Ifaistos Limnou 84–81 71–77 74–64
Panathinaikos OPAP w/o Olympiacos 20–0 20–0 0
Promitheas Patras 2–0 PAOK 81–66 76–68 0

Semifinals
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg4th leg5th leg
AEK 2–3 Promitheas Patras 83–82 65–74 88–6054–7084–85
Peristeri Vikos Cola 0–3 Panathinaikos OPAP 68–91 66–86 75–8200

Third place series
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg4th leg5th leg
AEK 3–1 Peristeri Vikos Cola 66–67 79–71 91–8383–820

Finals
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg4th leg5th leg
Panathinaikos OPAP 3–0 Promitheas Patras 103–77 92–80 111–7700

1 Olympiacos refused to participate in their playoff series against Panathinaikos over refereeing disputes.[31]

Final standings
Pos Team Overall record Qualification or Relegation
Pld W L
1.Panathinaikos 33 31 2 Qualification to the EuroLeague
*Club qualified for EuroLeague by having a contract
2.Promitheas Patras 36 21 15 Qualification to the EuroCup
3.AEK Athens 38 25 13 Qualification to the Champions League
*AEK declined EuroCup participation
4.Peristeri 36 20 16 Qualification to the Champions League
5.PAOK 28 15 13 Qualification to the Champions League
6.Ifaistos Limnou 29 14 15
7.Holargos 29 13 16 Relegation to the Greek A2 League
8.Aris 26 8 18
9.Rethymno 26 8 18
10.Panionios 26 8 18
11.Kymi 26 8 18 Relegation to the Greek A2 League
12.Lavrio 26 7 19
13.Kolossos Rodou 26 5 21
14.Olympiacos[32][33] 27 23 4 Qualification to the EuroLeague
*Club qualified for EuroLeague by having a contract
Relegation to the Greek A2 League

NOTES:

  • Holargos was relegated due to financial problems. The club's registered place in the top-tier Greek Basket League was purchased by Kolossos Rodou, which thus avoided being relegated.
  • Kymi was relegated due to financial problems. The club's registered place in the top-tier Greek Basket League was purchased by Lavrio, which thus avoided being relegated.
  • Olympiacos was relegated on 22 May 2019, following an extraordinary meeting of the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association's Board of Directors.[34] This was due to the club refusing to play in its playoff series against Panathinaikos, which marked its third forfeited game of the season, and which resulted in an automatic relegation, per league rules. The league also stripped the team of all of its season wins, as a further punishment.[35]

Clubs in European-wide competitions
TeamCompetitionProgress
OlympiacosEuroLeagueRegular season
PanathinaikosPlayoffs
AEKChampions LeagueQuarterfinals
PAOKRound of 16
Promitheas PatrasRound of 16
ArisSecond qualifying round
FIBA Europe CupRegular season
LavrioFirst qualifying round

References
  1. Olympiacos decided to forfeit the semifinal Greek Cup game against Panathinaikos in protest for the refs.
  2. Olympiacos officially relegated to Second Division.
  3. "Basket League: Τα ζευγάρια των πλέι οφ, στην Α2 Τρίκαλα-Κόροιβος" (in Greek). Onsports.gr. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  4. "Το αφιέρωμα του ΕΣΑΚΕ στα Τρίκαλα που αποχαιρέτησαν την Basket League" (in Greek). Gazzzetta.gr. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  5. "Χωρίς Καραγιάννη στη Stoiximan.gr Basket League το Περιστέρι" (in Greek). Sport24.gr. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  6. "Για πρώτη φορά στην ιστορία του στην Basket League ο Χολαργός" (in Greek). Neakriti.gr. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  7. "Indoor Basketball Arena". OAKA Indoor Hall official website. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  8. ΒΕΝΕΤΟΚΛΕΙΟ ΚΛΕΙΣΤΟ ΓΥΜΝΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ (in Greek). Kolossos Rodou. Archived from the original on 2016-10-25. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  9. "The Peace and Friendship Stadium". Olympiacos BC. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  10. Αυτό είναι το νέο Κλειστό Γήπεδο του Παλαιού Φαλήρου (in Greek).
  11. "Arena". P.A.O.K. B.C. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  12. Παρελθόν ο Αλεξανδρής από τον Πανιώνιο (in Greek). sportime.gr. 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  13. Νέος προπονητής στον Πανιώνιο ο Σκουρτόπουλος. Sport24.gr (in Greek). June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018./
  14. Στο Φάρο ο Μανωλόπουλος. sportime.gr (in Greek). June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018./
  15. Τεχνικός διευθυντής ο Σάκοτα, φουλ για προπονητή η ΑΕΚ (in Greek). Sport24.gr. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  16. Μπάνκι και επίσημα στην ΑΕΚ. Sport24.gr (in Greek). July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  17. "Olympiacos and Sfairopoulos part ways". Eurohoops.net. 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  18. "Olympiacos makes former EuroLeague champ Blatt head coach". EuroLeague.net. June 27, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  19. Αποχωρεί ο Σκουρτόπουλος από τον Πανιώνιο (in Greek). Sport24.gr. 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  20. Χουγκάζ, η επιστροφή για τον Πανιώνιο. Sport24.gr (in Greek). September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018./
  21. "Τέλος ο Χουγκάζ από τον Πανιώνιο". Sport24.gr. 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  22. Ανακοίνωσε τον Βασίλη Φραγκιά ο Πανιώνιος. Sport24.gr (in Greek). October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  23. Παραιτήθηκε ο Φραγκιάς (in Greek). Sport24.gr. 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  24. Το "τιμόνι" στον Οικονόμου. Sport24.gr (in Greek). November 24, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018./
  25. Τέλος κι επισήμως ο Βετούλας, πηγαίνει στον Ιωνικό (in Greek). Sport24.gr. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  26. Με Φλεβαράκη στο "τιμόνι". Sport24.gr (in Greek). December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  27. Παρελθόν κι επίσημα ο Καστρίτης (in Greek). Sport24.gr. 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
  28. Ανέλαβε την Κύμη ο Κουτσός. Sport24.gr (in Greek). November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  29. "Six more points deducted from Olympiacos". TalkBasket.net. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  30. "Olympiacos penalty reduced to two points". TalkBasket.net. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  31. Olympiacos officially relegated to Second Division.
  32. "Olympiacos penalty reduced to two points". TalkBasket.net. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  33. Olympiacos did not play against Panathinaikos in playoffs and will be relegated to the second division, and all results were voided by league officials."Olympiacos will forfeit the match against Panathinaikos". TalkBasket.net. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  34. Olympiacos officially relegated to Second Division.
  35. Η σημερινή (15/5) συνεδρίαση του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου (in Greek).
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