Panathinaikos defeats Olympiakos 79-68 to claim Greek Cup title in dominant fashion
Greek Basketball - Panathinaikos secured their 22nd Greek Cup trophy with a commanding 79-68 victory over archrival Olympiakos in Saturday's Final-Eight showpiece in Iraklio, with Nigel Hayes-Davis earning MVP honors after an impressive performance.
Panathinaikos beats Olympiacos defends Greek Cup title
Credit Panathinaikos Basketball
Photo Credit : Panathinaikos BC
The Greens delivered a masterclass performance against their eternal rivals, controlling the game from early on and never allowing Olympiakos to mount a serious comeback. With Hayes-Davis leading the charge, Panathinaikos showcased the difference his presence has made to their roster this season.
Dominant first half sets the tone
Panathinaikos established their authority early, taking a 12-6 lead before Olympiakos briefly responded to level the first quarter at 17-17. However, the second quarter belonged entirely to Ergin Ataman‘s side, who unleashed a devastating 16-2 partial run to build a commanding 33-19 advantage and close the first half with a comfortable 45-29 lead.
The Reds struggled significantly from beyond the arc, managing just 1 successful 3-point attempt from 19 attempts at one stage of the game. This poor shooting performance highlighted Olympiakos’ offensive struggles, as they appeared to abandon their usual team-oriented approach in favor of individual play.
Greek stars shine in cup triumph
The second half proved less spectacular but equally effective for Panathinaikos, who maintained their composure and responded well to every Olympiakos challenge. Greek players Nikos Rogavopoulos and Dinos Mitoglou stepped up magnificently, providing crucial support alongside the outstanding Hayes-Davis.
Just… NIGEL HAYES-DAVIS ☘️#WeTheGreens #paobcaktor #Club1908 #AllwynFinal8 pic.twitter.com/a2IN8glDcv
— Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) February 21, 2026
Olympiakos’ hopes suffered a significant blow when their most effective player through three quarters, Sasha Vezenkov, was forced to leave the game with an injury and missed the entire fourth quarter. This setback compounded coach Giorgos Bartzokas‘ frustrations as his team failed to reduce the deficit to single figures, with Panathinaikos’ lead stretching to as much as 19 points.
Hayes-Davis justified his MVP award with 15 points, while Rogavopoulos contributed 14 and Mitoglou added 11 for the victorious Greens. Despite the loss, Vezenkov managed 16 points for Olympiakos before his injury, with Evan Fournier and Tyrique Jones each scoring 12 points in the defeat.
This triumph marks Panathinaikos’ 22nd Greek Cup title, adding another chapter to their storied rivalry with Olympiakos and demonstrating the immediate impact of their roster improvements this season.
Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
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