Ikaros Kallitheas (A1) strengthened their roster with addition of 25-year old Nigerian center Solomon Alabi (216-109kg-88, college: Florida State). He played recently at Idaho Stampede (D-League) in the U.S.. In 18 games he recorded 4.9ppg and 5.5rpg this season. Alabi also spent pre-season at Qingdao Eagles (CBA) in Chinese league earlier that year. The most of last season he spent at the Raptors in NBA. In 13 games he averaged just 2.5ppg and 3.6rpg. The other team Alabi played that season for was Bakersfield Jam in D-League. In 9 games he averaged 9.1ppg, 7.7rpg and 1.9bpg. The previous (10-11) season he played at Erie Bay Hawks in D-League. In 22 games he averaged 7.2ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.8bpg. He helped them to end the regular season as a second best team in the league. Great season indeed as he was voted to USBasket.com D-League All-Imports Team. Three years ago Alabi was drafted by Mavericks (NBA) in second round (50th overall). He attended Florida State until 2010 and it will be his third season in pro basketball. Alabi played in the final of ACC Tournament in 2009. He represented Nigeria at the World Championships U19 in Novi Sad (Serbia) six years ago. His stats at that event were 5 games: 9.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.0apg, 2.0spg, 2.8bpg, 2FGP: 43.6%, FT: 66.7%. The scouts decsribe him following way:
(by Jonathan Wasserman for NBADraft.net in 2010)
The biggest strength Alabi has going for him are his physical tools ... 7'1, long and athletic, Alabi is the ideal protector of the rim that teams dream of having in regards to clogging the lane and preventing penetration ... Unlike most 7-footers, Alabi can adjust, position himself, use his immense wingspan and jump better than most centers his size ... These physical tools make him an excellent shot blocker on and off the ball, and a likely candidate for offensive tips and putbacks off misses.
Foot speed and reaction time are not at a high level ... Offensively, he does not have a diverse range of moves in the post, and relies too much on his height and length, which he won't be able to use as much against taller and stronger defenders at the next level.
Panionios have secured the services of Errick McCollum (185-PG-88, college: Goshen) for the next season. The point guard is in his third pro season. He spent it with Apollon Patras in Greece. Errick McCollum averaged 15.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in A1 League. Last season the guard spent in Israel. He played for Hapoel Kfar Saba/Kohav Yair. The guard notched impressive 24.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the National League [read more]
Panionios have secured the services of Errick McCollum (185-PG-88, college: Goshen) for the next season. The point guard is in his third pro season. He spent it with Apollon Patras in Greece. Errick McCollum averaged 15.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in A1 League. Last season the guard spent in Israel. He played for Hapoel Kfar Saba/Kohav Yair. The guard notched impressive 24.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the National League. He was named into All-Israeli National League 2nd Team. The guard was also trumped National League Import Player of the Year. The Goshen College graduate started his pro career in another Israeli team Elitzur Netanya.
The sweep over PAOK is now a fact! Having the home court disadvantage the team of Coach Thanasis Giaples, AGOR managed to beat twice the team of PAOK and after the road win in Thessaloniki an easy second win came in Rethymnon and with a solid 2-0 the islanders from Crete are officially in the top four teams of the Hellenic Basketball for the season 2012-2013, for the first time in their history!!!
This [read more]
The sweep over PAOK is now a fact! Having the home court disadvantage the team of Coach Thanasis Giaples, AGOR managed to beat twice the team of PAOK and after the road win in Thessaloniki an easy second win came in Rethymnon and with a solid 2-0 the islanders from Crete are officially in the top four teams of the Hellenic Basketball for the season 2012-2013, for the first time in their history!!! This time the MVP of the game was not Brent Petway (204-F-85, college: Michigan) but his fellow American Marc Antonio Carter (191-G-85, college: NC-Wilmington) in a great afternoon to lead his team with 25 points and 7 rebounds followed by Gabe Pruitt (193-G-86, college: USC) with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in just 22 minutes. About the game now, the home team was aggressive from the very beginning and right after three minutes the score was already 11-6. PAOK reacted and with Wiliam Hatcher (188-PG-84, college: Miami, OH) and Papadopoulos came back to take the lead with 13-14. The last two minutes of the first period though were totally belong to the the home team with Leonidas Kaselakis (201-F-90) from behind the arc and Aggelopoulos in his best period in the game brought the difference to 24-17 before PAOK cuts the deficit at the end with Wiliam Hatcher to 27-21. The ex player of AGOR, Dedas scored from behind the arc at the early beginning of the second period to cut the deficit a bit but Gabe Pruitt was there to score 5 points and bring the deficit to double digit for his team 38-25 and 41-25 after a while. The home team had an amazing crescent from the parameter and they managed to top up the team of Soulis Soulis Markopoulos with 50-29 by the end of the first half succeeding a solid 23-8 in the second period!! Things remain the same in the third period with PAOK not being very focused for such a game while Leonidas Kaselakis (201-F-90) on the other site continue his scoring crescent bringing his team to +24 53-29. PAOK reacted and with a 10-0 cut the deficit to 53-39 before Duvnjak's long shot reshaped the score to 56-39 three minutes before the end of the third season. PAOK couldnt react in the level that Coach Soulis Markopoulos wanted and even though the deficit was closing with Wiliam Hatcher and Charlambidiss long shots Leonidas Kaselakis (201-F-90) was there to bring the difference in its normal by the end of the third period, 65-47. The fourth and final period things remain the same as PAOK was below average and AGOR wanted to finish the story in their home court once and for all, Gabe Pruitt (193-G-86, college: USC) and Gabe Pruitt took over in the scoring while PAOK found some good scoring from Margaritis to -16, 75-58 Rethymno was not giving up and with Gabe Pruitt in the scoring line brought the deficit once more to +20 (80-60) .The rest is simply history. The periods: 27-21, 50-29, 65-47, 88-65. The scorers: AGOR: Gabe Pruitt (193-G-86, college: USC) 10, Kallinikidis 7, Gabe Pruitt 13, Aggelopoulos 3, Tsohlas 3, Duvnjak 6, Kommatos 8, Leonidas Kaselakis (201-F-90) 25, Latovic 2, Brent Petway 11 PAOK: Wiliam Hatcher 20, Leonidas Kaselakis (201-F-90) 11, Charalambidis 4, Tsairelis 7, Dedas 2, Margaritis 8, Papadopoulos 6, Kalles 6, Ambaras 5.
It was a very close game until the last quarter, when Olympiacos's pressure prevailed and they won that period 15-7 extending their advantage to 14 points. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Apollon Patras to just 7 points in fourth quarter. Olympiacos made 22-of-25 free shots (88.0 percent) during the game. Apollon Patras was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American forward Josh Powell (206-83, college: N.Carolina St.) stepped up and scored 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners and international guard Vassilis Spanoulis (193-82, agency: Beo Basket) chipped in 10 points and 6 assists. At the losing side naturalized Serbian swingman Vladimir Petrovic-Stergiou (199-77, agency: BeoExcell) responded with 14 points and American-Dominican power forward Larry Turner (210-82, college: Tennessee St.) scored 8 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Top scorers: Apollon Patras: V.Petrovic-Stergiou 14+4reb+3ast, L.Turner 8+8reb, K.Grant 8+2reb+3ast, I.Lianos 7+2reb+1ast, E.McCollum 6+3reb+2ast, G.Molfetas 6+6reb+1ast Olympiacos: J.Powell 18+5reb, V.Spanoulis 10+3reb+6ast, A.Law 9+1reb+2ast, P.Antic 7+3reb, K.Hines 7+4reb+2ast, K.Sloukas 6+3ast
The game without a history. Panathinaikos led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. Panathinaikos outrebounded Ikaros 46-24 including a 34-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 53.8 percentage. Panathinaikos looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American forward James Gist (205-86) stepped up and scored 17 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Gabonese forward Stephane Lasme (203-82, college: Massachusetts) chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds. At the losing side guard Mihalis Giannakidis (192-88, agency: FCM) responded with 17 points and power forward Vassilis Symtsak (204-81) scored 8 points and 8 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Top scorers: Ikaros: M.Giannakidis 17+1reb+1ast, S.Alabi 9+5reb, D.Gibson 8+2ast, V.Symtsak 8+8reb+2ast, Z.Vrkic 7+3reb+1ast, M.Faye 5+3reb+1ast Panathinaikos: J.Gist 17+7reb+1ast, R.Guinn 12+6reb+1ast, R.Curry 11+2reb+2ast, S.Lasme 10+10reb+2ast, D.Diamantidis 9+2reb+8ast, R.Ukic 8+1reb
The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Aris won third quarter 17-13. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening, at least not yet. The game turned upside-down in the last quarter, where Aris used huge pressure winning it 23-15 getting a tie at the end of regular time. They lost eventually overtime period 13-14. Aris was plagued by 32 personal fouls down the stretch. The former international guard Nikos Pappas (195-90, agency: FCM) stepped up and scored 28 points for the winners and naturalized Serbian forward Vladimir Jankovic (202-90, agency: FCM) chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds. At the losing side the former international forward Michalis Pelekanos (198-81, agency: FCM) responded with 17 points and 4 assists and power forward Kostas Charissis (212-79, college: USC, agency: FCM) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. Four Aris players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Top scorers: Aris: M.Pelekanos 17+3reb+4ast, M.Pasalic 16+3reb+1ast, K.Charissis 13+10reb, A.Asimakopoulos 11+5reb, J.Hunt 9+6reb+2ast, E.Bochoridis 5+1reb Panionios: N.Pappas 28+4reb+3ast, G.Athanasoulas 14+3reb+1ast, V.Jankovic 12+10reb+2ast, W.Keys 8+1reb, C.Booker 7+6reb, M.Batis 3+1reb+1ast
The guests took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But PAOK won fourth quarter 20-15. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. American forward Brent Petway (204-85, college: Michigan) stepped up and scored 23 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners and his fellow American import guard Gabe Pruitt (193-86, college: USC) chipped in 10 points and 6 assists. At the losing side the former international center Lazaros Papadopoulos (210-80) responded with 8 points and 14 rebounds and American point guard Wiliam Hatcher (188-84, college: Miami, OH) scored 18 points. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Top scorers: PAOK: W.Hatcher 18+2reb+2ast, E.Margaritis 15+4reb+1ast, G.Dedas 10+2reb+3ast, M.Tsairelis 8+4reb, L.Kaselakis 8+5reb+1ast, L.Papadopoulos 8+14reb+2ast AGOR: B.Petway 23+7reb+2ast, G.Pruitt 10+1reb+6ast, U.Duvnjak 8+1reb, N.Kommatos 7+6reb+1ast, P.Horne 7+2reb, D.Latovic 6+6reb
Olympiacos: took 2nd place (8-2) in Group C of the Regular Season, took 2nd
place (9-5) in Group F of the Top16, beat Real Madrid 100-88 in the Final !!!
Panathinaikos: took 3rd place (6-4) in Group A of the Regular Season, took
4th place (9-5) in Group E of the Top16, lost to FCB Regal Barcelona 2-3 in the
Quarterfinals !!!
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