Greece - Panionios Splits First 2 Regular Season Games before Pivotal Clashes with Aris and PAOK

(Image - #9 Jon Diebler - Regular Season Week One - 10.22.2011 - Greece)

10.22.2011 - Panionios 67 at Kolossos 72 (Greek League Round One - Jon Diebler's Pro Regular Season debut)
- Jon Diebler: 6 points (2-5 from 3pt, no two point attempts) , 1 assist, 1 rebound , 20 minutes

Greece 2011/2012 - Rookie Jon Diebler and Panionios opened the new Greek League Regular season with an away game at Kolossos (10.22) followed by Ilysiakos (10.29) at home. They might have came away with a 2-0 start if not for a struggle in the very first half of the season. A good looking Kolossos team jumped on Panionios early at home en route to a 42-25 halftime score. Panionios responded with a 42 point half of their own in the 2nd period (won 2nd half 42-30), but they ultimately could not make up the deficit, losing by five, 72-67 on the road. Jon Diebler scored 6 points (2 threes) with a rebound & assist in his regular season debut.

Panionios bounced back from their tough defeat at Kolossos by taking care of business at home the next week. Center Alex Stepheson broke out with a team-high 20 point (7-7), 9 rebound effort Panionios' 76-66 victory over Ilysiakos.

Tough Opponents Looming - We are thinking that we should learn a lot more about Panionios after these couple of contests with Aris (11/6) & PAOK (11/12) . These are two solid squads to contend with (both represent Greece in the Eurocup competition), but Panionios has an opportunity to make some early season noise if they can build on their last three halves of play (has won or tied the last six quarters). Buckeye Jon Diebler logged only 12 minutes of action in game two vs Ilysiakos (played 20 mins in game one). We did not view the game, but Jon's limited action may have been in part due to foul trouble (ended the game with 4). These next couple of games should garner considerable media coverage which will hopefully result in some clips of Diebler & Panionios!

(Here is a video package of the Greek League's first round of play - 10.22.2011 - the brief Panionios/Kolossos clips start at the 2:37 mark. If you watch closely at 2:40, you will see #9 Jon Diebler passes to a teammate who scores on a layup.)