Olympiacos one win away from title

ATHENS, Greece

Guard Vassilis Spanoulis will try to lead Olympiacos to the long-sought title.

Olympiacos Piraeus aims to beat Panathinaikos tonight to win its first Greek Basketball League title since 1997.

The Reds lead the series 2-1 and need just one victory to end its long drought. If Olympiacos win tonight at Panathinaikos’ home arena, it will mean an end to the rival Panathinaikos’ domination. Panathinaikos won 13 league titles in the 14 seasons since 1997.

On May 27, Giorgos Printezis scored 16 points as Olympiakos beat Panathinaikos 84-72 to lead the playoff finals 2-1 and move within one victory of the title. Dimitris Diamantidis and Mike Batiste each scored 12 points for PAO.

Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Olympiakos dominated the boards, especially on the offensive end, and forced several turnovers off the defending champion to take a 53-35 halftime lead. Panathinaikos could not get closer than 8 points in the second half.

Olympiacos won its first trophy of the season when it rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat CSKA Moscow in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague final in Istanbul on May 13.