with Iraklis as the Thessaloniki side dropped a point at home to EA Patras on Saturday, while Olympiakos scraped through Lamia in the tie-break.
Panathinaikos had no problems against all but relegated Panellinios scoring an easy 3-0 win (25-16, 25-18, 25-16) and have realistic hopes of clinching the top spot of the regular season.
Iraklis and EA Patras played a balanced game that ended 3-2 in favour of the hosts (25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12), but Iraklis should have clinched all three points had they not made one mistake after another at the end of the fourth set.
Lamia led Olympiakos 2-1 sets (27-25, 23-25, 25-20) at home, but the Reds came back to clinch victory with a 3-2 score landing the last couple of sets 28-26, 15-13, in a match that lasted for two hours and 17 minutes!
PAOK saw off neighbours Epikouros Polichnis 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-20), while Ethnikos Alexandroupolis took a big step towards staying up, defeating visiting Aris 3-0 (28-26, 26-24, 25-23).
On Monday Kifissia played their seventh consecutive tie-break, beating Apollon Kalamarias 3-2 at home (25-19, 16-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13).
Iraklis 3 EA Patras 2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12)
Lamia 2 Olympiakos 3 (27-25, 23-25, 25-20, 26-28, 13-15)
Panathinaikos 3 Panellinios 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-16)
PAOK 3 Epikouros 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-20)
Ethnikos Al. 3 Aris (28-26, 26-24, 25-23)
Kifissia 3 Apollon K. 2 (25-19, 16-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13)
Standings (after 16 games): Iraklis 37, Panathinaikos 37, Olympiakos 34, PAOK 32, EA Patras 30, Lamia 29, Aris 23, Kifissia 19 Ethnikos 17, Apollon K. 14, Epikouros 10, Panellinios 6.
source: SPORTINGREECE
