Panathinaikos scrapes through Promitheas challenge in Patra

New boys Promitheas gave a real scare to Panathinaikos on Saturday before the Greens emerged victorious from a tricky clash in Patra for the Basket League, to stay one point behind unbeaten leader Olympiakos one week before hosting the Reds.

Promitheas led twice by 11 points over a depleted and tired Panathinaikos (that did not return at all to Athens after its Euroleague visit to Turkey on Thursday), yet the experienced visitors overturned their 50-39 deficit for a 72-69 victory in the end.

Olympiakos, on the other hand, strolled to an 85-62 home win over Korivos Amaliadas on Sunday retaining its perfect record intact, ahead of a week with two Euroleague games for each of Greece's representatives in the competition, and a Panathinaikos vs Olympiakos league clash on January 30.

PAOK fought off the strong resistance of bottom club Doxa Lefkadas to win 84-67 as the...