Xavi Pascual

Panathinaikos and Olympiakos have put some clear, blue water between themselves and the other teams in the Basket League, as the Greens defeated cup holder AEK and the Reds are now alone in second after defeating surprise package Peristeri.

Greek basketball champion Panathinaikos parted ways with coach Xavi Pascual on Thursday and is reported to be close to hiring former Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

Olympiakos defeated AEK at home on Saturday and is now alone on top of the Basket League with eight wins in as many games.

The Reds won 78-67 to inflict AEK's first league loss this season as its spectacular run came to an end. Led by Matt Lojeski (17 points), Olympiakos advanced by up to 21 points before AEK reduced the deficit in the end.

Olympiakos survived a huge as well as unexpected scare at Lefkada beating promoted club Doxa with literally the last shot of the game, while PAOK was the big winner of the Thessaloniki derby with Aris on Saturday.

Panathinaikos, playing without a head coach, very nearly upset Euroleague favorite CSKA Moscow to go down by four in the end on Friday, while Olympiakos thrashed Turkey's Efes Anadolu by 24 on Thursday for its first win in the new Euroleague.