Ethnikosâ two best runs in the Greek Cup in the 1970s were halted by PAOK. In 1972-72 Ethnikos lost to PAOK 3-2 in the Semifinals and in 1976-77 Ethnikos was defeated by PAOK in the Quarterfinals.long the way, Olympiacos developed a habit for luring Ethnikos' best players, like Greek national team players Philippos Kourantis in the late 1920s, Yiannis Chelmis in the late 1930s and Yiannis Ioannou in the early 1950s.