So many of Maroussi’s games — OK, losses, — have at least been fun to watch. Last-second shots that missed. Close games against powerhouses Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. The point guard getting ejected for arguing with the referees. I could go on.
Tonight, though, was a night to learn Greek. Panionios defeated Maroussi 97-57 in a game that was over shortly after the opening tip-off. So to stay entertained, the fans in the section I sat in during the second half collectively counted up Jon Diebler‘s 3-pointers. “Tessera” they said when he sank his fourth, “penta” for the next, and finally “exi” for his sixth and final long ball.
Diebler, the league’s best 3-point shooter, scored 22 points and added 11 rebounds — both season highs. He was 6 of 8 on 3-point attempts (six 3s ties his season high). His buzzer-beater before halftime gave Panionios a 46-24 lead. Not that it mattered much, but the score was 41-24 with Maroussi trying to set up the final shot of the half, when guard Yannis Gagaloudis lost the ball out of bounds, then kicked it in frustration. A technical foul was called. Ex-Maroussi star Billy Keys, to whom Maroussi still owes money, sank the two foul shots and Panionios retained possession, leading to the inbounds pass to Diebler with 2 seconds on the clock. He sank it from the corner.
Gagaloudis, the fiery, bearded and super-quick playmaker, led Maroussi with 16 points and 10 assists, along with 7 turnovers. His drives and shooting kept the game from turning uglier than it already was. Nestoras Kommatos, the league’s leading scorer (21 ppg) entering the game, finished with 14 points. He was 1 of 6 from 3-point range. Kommatos was coming off a 40-point performance Saturday but Panionios wisely doubled-teamed him and successfully harassed him all night, clearly borrowing on Bill Belichick‘s ‘Make ’em go to Manningham’ game plan.
Panionios outrebounded Maroussi 44 to 21. The winners connected on 13 of 29 3-point attempts and held Maroussi to 2 of 13 from behind the arc.
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