PAOK achieved a decisive 3:0 (28:26, 25:19, 25:18) victory over Paninios at PAOK Sports Arena and temporarily climbed to third place in the Greek Super League standings. "The Biceps of the North" demonstrated control in all elements, with the star of the match being Cuban opposite Fernando Hernandez, who finished with 22 points and was named MVP.
The triumph was dedicated to libero Georgios Michelakis, who became a father a day earlier. In addition, young 16-year-old libero Jason Perfect received his second chance this season after coach Valantis Momis gave him playing time.
The guests from Paninios had real opportunities to win the first set. They missed three set points, and PAOK capitalized on their mistakes in key rallies. After 28:26, the hosts gained composure, and the second and third sets passed under their full control.
The difference in squad depth and attack effectiveness was evident – PAOK executed 45 successful attacks, added 5 aces and 8 blocks, while Paninios succeeded on the flanks but had visible problems in reception and attack organization.
Statistics of the two Bulgarian middle blockers in PAOK
| Name | Points | Index (+/-) | Aces | Blocks | Attack (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolay Kolev | 8 | +4 | 1 | 3 | 50% |
| Nikolay Kurtev | 6 | +4 | 1 | 2 | 38% |
Both Bulgarian middle blockers played a strong match.
Nikolay Kolev impressed with aggressive play at the net and high efficiency, with his three blocks coming at crucial moments.
Nikolay Kurtev was stable both in blocking and on the service line. Despite a lower attack percentage, his ace and two blocks contributed to PAOK's tactical dominance in the middle.
For PAOK, Fernando Hernandez was the top scorer – 22 points, two blocks, and an exceptionally powerful presence in attack.
Kokkinakis added 10 points with 56% positive and 44% perfect reception, while Galiotis and Cole contributed 3 and 8 points respectively.
Libero Michelakis played stably in defense and reception with stats of 68% positive and 32% perfect.
For Paninios, Andre stood out with 13 points and Busa with 12, but the insufficient reception (especially for Andre 48% positive / 21% perfect) did not allow for longer attacking series.
PAOK is now looking towards the upcoming Cup matches and Super League playoffs, expecting the transfer of Uros Kovacevic to be finalized, who did not participate in the match for this reason.
