Ex-Maroussi star nets 30 points in Cypriot debut

From the Kings of Maroussi International News Desk:

Two days after leaving Maroussi (0-17), Yannis Gagaloudis tasted victory on Sunday in Cyprus. He scored 30 points and handed out 6 assists to lead his new team, Apollon Limassol, to a 89-85 win over previously undefeated Keravnos in Cypriot League action. The veteran point guard started the game and played 34 minutes.

Yannis Gagaloudis

Hmm, sounds familiar … Jeremy Lin dazzled in his first start for the New York Knicks on February 6. They defeated the Utah Jazz 99-88.

The parallels don’t end there. Well, sort of. Lin isn’t prone to picking up technical fouls and I’m guessing he doesn’t smoke. Lin is also 10 years younger than the ex-Maroussi star.

Oh, and another thing: Lin only scored a measly 28 points in his debut as a starter on a new squad.

Gagaloudis and Maroussi parted ways Thursday. The next day, he was on a plane to Cyprus. Financially troubled Maroussi has barely been able to pay its players this season. Other players also skipped town.

Gagaloudis, 33, hit three 3-pointers and sank 13 of 15 free throws in his Cypriot debut.

Gagaloudis signs in Cyprus

Well, any slim hope Maroussi (0-17) had of winning a game this season just took a crushing blow. Yannis Gagaloudis, the team’s talented and hot-tempered point guard, left today for Cyprus to play for Appollon Limassol.

Yannis Gagaloudis

Gagaloudis led the Greek league in assists (6 per game) and was a top-10 scorer (15.6 ppg). He had a double-double (16 points 10 assists) in his final game, a 97-57 loss to Panionios on Wednesday evening.

The move was not a surprise. The 33-year-old recently told me that Maroussi’s financial situation — the team’s owner simply stopped paying players — was weighing on him. The team has been unable to sign imported players because of a FIBA ban, which resulted from Maroussi failing to pay a former player.

“Every day we come and we don’t know how many players we have,” Gagaloudis said.

Power forward Dimitris Haritopoulos was the first out the door. He’s playing in France. Frank Elegar was next. The American center is headed to Turkey, although he hasn’t signed a contract yet.

Now the countdown is on for Nestoras Kommatos, the league’s leading scorer (20.4 ppg). Like Gagaloudis, Kommatos has international experience, and has indicated he’s willing to leave.

Smart money is on Kommatos leaving before Maroussi’s next game, which is February 25 against Rethymno.

Maroussi now has just five professionals on its roster. It has been relying on amateurs from its junior team to eat up minutes.