The organization, which has lived happily ever after for 47 years and has come in dozens of different forms, is coming this year to make promises that it can give Greek basketball something of the lost glory of the past. The first final-8 of the Greek Cup, which will take place from today to Sunday at the Two Aorakis Stadium in Heraklion with Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK, PAOK, Ari, Peristeri, Kolossos and Panioni, opens its curtain from the first two quarter-finals. The one between AEK and Panionios (15:45) who has a clear favourite, as the “historic” participation in the 2nd national team is now making new efforts. The other between PAOK and Peristeri (19:15) is the most controversial (the team of Vassilis Spanoulis has two championship wins over Thessaloniki), like tomorrow’s games (Olympiacos – Aris, Panathinaikos – Colossus), there are few chances for surprises.

In Giorgos Papagiannis’ Panathinaikos, everything shows that he will be present, despite the discomfort he feels in the hamstring, as well as Matt Thomas, who received a blow to the head in the game with Prometheus. It looks like there are formalities left to terminate Andrew Andrews’ contract so that Nate Walters can be named in his place. At Olympiacos, Kostas Sloukas and George Papas are on the rise and are expected to be transferred to Giorgos Bartzokas.