With the spotlight on Pylaia and Nea Smyrni, the second “act” of the semi-finals continues tonight Volleyball League of men.
The program opens at 17:00 (ERT-3) at “Palataki”, where PAOK will aim to equalize the series with Panathinaikos! The “greens” were the ones who made the 3/3 this year against the “double-header of the north” which they defeated 3-1 set to the Mets in the first semi-final getting the upper hand to qualify for this year’s finals. It is reminded that qualification to the final is judged on 3 wins.
PAOK Sports Arena, 17.00 (ERT-3 HD): P.A.O.K. – Panathinaikos A.O.
Referees: Papadogoulas, Georgiadis Emm., Observer: Antonoulis, Supervisors: Vasdekis, Loumsi, Secretariat: Hatzigeorgiou.
His coach PAOK Josko Milenkoski he said to acpaok.gr: “The first semi-final showed that we have quality and all the possibilities to play against Panathinaikos. We had a great chance even to win the first game but in important moments we were not so focused, which was taken advantage of by Panathinaikos, who have individually excellent players, who can finish important moments of the game. Nevertheless, it was simply 1-0 in a series which is judged on the three wins. Last season we had the same condition, as in this season, we will play many games against Panathinaikos. We will try to be even more focused in the second game, I hope at home we can play even better, and we will correct the mistakes of the first game. Of course, the headquarters of each team helps it. This was also seen in the first game, as when Panathinaikos found themselves in a difficult position, they found motivation and energy through the support of the crowd to turn the situation around. I hope that with the support of our people, we can fix the easy mistakes we made in the previous game, find motivation and not give up no matter what happens. We will give everything to have a great series of games.”
PAOK’s Belgian winger Bram Van Den Dries told acpaok.gr: “I think it’s a very important game for us because we want to tie the series. It will be a difficult game because Panathinaikos is pressing a lot with their serve, but now we will play at home. I believe this is also the “key” of the game, whichever team serves better and withstands the pressure at the same time, will have the advantage. Of course there is also the spiritual part, for which we should be ready. As Kokkinakis also said, in such series he must have “amnesia”, because it is a game of chess, where you need to forget what happened in the previous game, but correct your mistakes in view of the next one”.
Panathinaikos Italian winger Jiri Kovar said: “We have entered since Monday in a series of matches where there is no easy match for us until the end of the season. All matches are decisive and decide titles directly or indirectly, so there is no room for defeat. We have to be better than the first match that was at home and we have to put in more effort to beat PAOK at home. It will certainly be a very difficult match and the opponent will exert pressure which we must face and bring out our quality and dynamics as a team”
In 83 league matches, Panathinaikos leads the way in victories 51-32.
Remember how Panathinaikos won the first match:
A few hours later in Nea Smyrni (20:30, Live Streaming ESAP TV You Tube) the outstanding again this season, Milonas, will seek an equalizer against Olympiakos, wanting to enter the qualification stage for good. The “red and white” had prevailed in the first match more difficult than the final 3-0 shows and they are going to a field where they experienced their first defeat this year within the borders.
In 16 matches in the past, Olympiacos leads Milos 15-1.
Gymnasium “Krisos Persis” N. Smyrni, 20.30 (Live Streaming TV ESAP You Tube): A.O.N.S. Milos – Olympiacos S.F.P.
Referees: Fragkakis, Voudouris, Observer: Kapandais, Supervisors: Kotsias, Pavlakis, Secretariat: Kaligeri.
The coach of Milonos, Sakis Psarras, said: “Our ambitions and our “wants” have not stopped with the 3rd place finish in the regular season. As I have said many times, the way a team plays is more important than the results. What I want is for us to play properly even if we lose. To do what we know in all areas. Although we lost 3-0 in the first match, we were close in all sets. We have seen what we have to do, we have worked. These games are a celebration. It is an honor for Milos to play semi-finals with historical and big clubs that have a tradition in volleyball. We will fight it. We are waiting for our friends and volleyball fans to come and see a great match.”
Olympiakos coach Daniel Castellani said: “We took the first step, we are happy about it, but tomorrow, the match will be different. First of all, because of the pitch, a different pitch, lower ceiling. It needs attention, you have to have trained here to get used to it to some extent. We want to improve some situations in the block-defense, we are optimistic, positive, in good shape.”
Olympiakos libero Dimitris Tziavras said: “We are playing a special match, at a venue where we did not get the desired result last time. We have to be doubly focused so that we can get the result and clear the series at home on Monday. I think we are ready, we have the confidence needed. We have studied Milos, so that we can get the victory and then be more calm, in order to go to the finals of the Volley League”.
Remember how Olympiacos won the first match:
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