Mr. PGBL’s Corner | 2013 Semi-Finals
Spurs 70, Kings 62
There’s an old saying in sports that the playoffs are a new season entirely. The Spurs are living proof.
After knocking off Arseniko, the Spurs followed up with an even bigger statement, eliminating the second-seeded Kings in a gritty 70–62 semifinal win. The game did not start in their favor. The Kings opened on an 8–0 run and looked sharp early, but the Spurs quickly settled in, answering with a 29–15 stretch of their own to take a 29–23 lead. The game stayed tight heading into halftime.
The Kings surged again after the break, building a 10-point lead and briefly appearing to take control. Once more, the Spurs responded. They tightened defensively, pushed the pace, and reclaimed the lead down the stretch to lock up a Finals berth.
Kosta Nikolos led the way once again, finishing with 24 points, including 14 in the second half. The rest of the Spurs’ starting lineup also delivered balanced scoring, with Vasili Rousseas scoring 14, Ari Raptis adding 12, and Zeke Economides and Niko Pappas chipping in 10 apiece.
For the Kings, the long layoff appeared costly. Having not played in 18 days, they struggled to find rhythm, particularly on jump shots and defensive rotations, and were outworked on the boards. Despite strong starts to both halves, they could not sustain momentum. Chris Kourelias led the Kings with 19 points, followed by Bill Zonios with 18 and Foti Giannopoulos with 13.
The Kings swept the Spurs in the regular season but could not make it three straight when it mattered most. Their offseason begins now, and if past years are any indication, Kings basketball will be back sharper and more focused next season.
Game Ball: Kosta Nikolos
Sixers 62, Revolution 56
Two of the league’s most established franchises met in the night’s other semifinal, with the Sixers earning a hard-fought 62–56 win over the Revolution to punch their ticket to the Finals.
The Sixers led throughout, but never comfortably. The Revolution hovered within striking distance all night, trailing by just a few possessions at nearly every point. The first half was a defensive chess match, with both teams committed to disciplined 2–3 zone defenses. Shots were contested, lanes were closed, and scoring was at a premium. At halftime, the Sixers held a narrow 24–19 advantage.
The game opened up in the second half, and that’s when Tony Grammenos took control. After a difficult close to the regular season, Grammenos looked every bit the MVP-caliber player in the playoffs, scoring 23 points and burying several clutch three-pointers whenever the Revolution threatened to rally.
Support came from across the lineup. Jimmy Armenakis added 14 points in the paint, Tony Spirocostas scored 10, and Jimmy Voutsinas chipped in nine. With the win, the Sixers advanced to their third Finals in four years, still chasing the franchise’s first championship.
The Revolution showed the fight that defined their season. After sweeping the Sixers in two close regular-season meetings, they once again kept the game within reach. But playing from behind all night took its toll. Late in the game, center Vasili Nasis fouled out, leaving the Revolution undersized against the Sixers’ frontcourt.
Pete Kada delivered an impressive second-half performance, scoring 19 of his 26 points after the break, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. The Revolution’s season ends with 13 regular-season wins and an early playoff exit, but expectations remain high heading into 2013–14.
Game Ball: Tony Grammenos