After an unlikely semifinal that lasted for more than 2.5 hours, the PAOK prevailed his Panathinaic With a 3-2 set and got the ticket for the Greek Cup final in volleyball, where he will face Olympiacos on Saturday night (29/3/2025, 19:00).
Panathinaikos and PAOK started the match at high tensions, going to point until 7-7. Panathinaikos, however, uploaded … turns both with Gasman and Colev’s mistakes took a small lead with three points 12-9 and 14-11, which began to gradually increase with the points of Protopsalti and Van Hardren (17-12).
Protopsaltis continued to be excellent in the attack, raising the difference to 22-14, to close the first set in favor of the “green” with 25-19, after Liaftov’s service.
The second set had a shocking development with continuous scoring alternations. PAOK responded to the 10-8 Greens’ lead, again brought the set to balance (20-20), but at the critical points the North’s biceps found solutions from Dimitris Muchlia and Kolev and reached 25-22 and 1-1.
PAOK also entered the third set, who continued to hit the mold, Laftov and something, taking a 6-1 lead. Panathinaikos reduced to 10-7 with Gasman’s ace, but the biceps of the North maintained his temper, had “clean” blows and kept the difference to 5-6 points, comfortably 25-19 and 2-1 after Gasman’s unfortunate attack.
With the … back on the wall, the “Greens” got determined in the fourth set, taking a “strong” 5-0 lead from the beginning. PAOK tried to react, but Panathinaikos had more solutions and Nielsen “wake up” and raised the difference to 8 points (19-11), closing the set at 25-18 with Voulkidis’ first year for the 2-2 “clover”.
Equally impressive began the tie-break with PAOK leading 2-0, Panathinaikos “responding” 2-2 and Dikefalos North making a new 3-0 series for 5-2. The Greens reduced to 7-6, but PAOK continued to have more “cleaner” options in his attack, reaching 14-8, with two series of Nielsen’s series and Galiotos’ very good service.
Panathinaikos made one last attempt, reducing a 4-0 run to 14-12, but Muchlia’s point in the final made it 15-12 and sent PAOK to tomorrow’s (29/3) big final with Olympiacos.
The sets: 25-19, 22-25, 19-25, 25-18, 12-15.
The program and results of the Final Four
Semifinals – Friday 28 March
OFI-Olympiacos 1-3
Panathinaikos-PAOK 2-3
Final – Saturday 29th March
19:00 Olympiacos – PAOK