Lidia Stoupel

Reporter Intern

Panathinaikos succeeded in securing its 5th game in the final four for the European Volleyball Cup. The team can now dream freely after its game with Olympiakos. Despite its loss from Olympiakos with three to two sets (20-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 18-16) on the “reds” stadium, Panathinaikos got to the final four (semi-finals), because it has triumphed over Olympiakos with three to zero on the Olympic Stadium. On the road to the finals, Panathinaikos will have to win over the Italian “Kouneo” team, which is famous also as the “Eagles of the Alps” and is a candidate for organizing the finals on March 21-22.

Panathinaikos did not make it to the Champions League (because it lost from Iraklis in 2008 on the Greek Championship) but it will fiercely fight, in order to win itself a place on the finals. During 2006 it won 3^rd place on the Champions Cup in Majorca and is now hoping for the best.

Iraklis, which is not playing for the Champions League, managed to win the set, which secured its participation on the quarter finals, after defeating the Portugal team Victoria Gimareaz with three to zero. On March 4^th it will play against the German “Fridrishafen” team. The first game will be in Germany and on March 11^th the return game will be in Greece. Iraklis, together with Italian team “Tridino” and “Kouneo” are the only ones who do not have any lost games until now.

Panathinaikos (coach: Leonis)

Agamez 27, Adrae 16, Adreadis 2, Gertis 10, Depestle 2/Stefanou, Donas, Psaras, Haziadoniou, Padaledi 9, Lapas 11.

Olympiakos (coach: Kristianson)

Tzergas, Hoff 9, Tzouris 14, Milkovich 32, Ournaout 14/Papadimitriou, Hristofidelis 11, Karapidis, Roumeliotis.

Iraklis (coach: Goulineli)

Kreverick 4, Tiser 5, Nilson 19, Kanelos 11, Kostandinov 4, Ahrem 21/Koulieris, Brooks 4, Gortzaniouk 6, Haritonidis 2, Peledjas 5.

Victoria (coach: Rodgerio)

Peixoto, Gaspar 15, Lab 1, Rodrigez 14, De Souza, Zardel 10, Tiago 5/Cruz, Kokato 1, Araougio 15.