By featuring many resorts in offence, playing hard defence, showing eagerness to run the open court and also coming up with many show-time moments, Panathinaikos began the Greek League quite impressively, overcoming the obstacle of the Maroussi team by 82-54, in an empty stadium, since the hosts carried out today their punishment of one game behind closed doors, pending from last season.
A streak 13-0 after the 2-6 that Maroussi had built up to 1’30’’ into the game, put Panathinaikos in the pole position, the score settling at 15-7 (7’). Effective defence, clearing off the glass and the up-tempo rhythm of the Panathinaikos team gave them the first say in the game, but this did not mean that Maroussi was ready to surrender yet. It is not of its character to do so, anyway. In the course of the second quarter, it managed to threaten its opponent, by creeping up in the score, getting the gap down to a two point difference(23-21 at 12’10’’, 25-23 at 14’25’’), only to see Panathinaikos stepping on the exhilarator and closing the first half with the margin peeking for the first time in the game to a two figure difference (37-27). Zeljko Obrandovic had already made use of ten of the players he had at his disposal, having only Ducan Sakota and Dimitris Verginis still on the bench. Vassilis Spanoulis and Fragiskos Alvertis were casually dressed on the bench, due to injuries.
The lead grew even more when the second half commenced, rising to +16 (45-29, 24’30’’). Things did not fluctuate for Panathinaikos, who controlled the game in both ends of the court, closing the third quarter ahead by 56-38, managing to create many impressive plays. All this, whilst having complete control over rebounding in this period of time, accumulating to 28 against 15 rebounds of the Maroussi team. In the first minute of the 4th quarter the lead peeked to +19 (57-38), while later on, Obradovic called Dimitris Verginis off the bench. At 32’30’’ the opposite direction (towards the bench) was taken by Nicola Pekovic, who at that moment was fouled out. Already from 25’30’’ Mike Batiste had been charged with four personal fouls.
Panathinaikos reached +22 (67-45, 34’25’’) with Dusan Sakota following the road from pine-time to action-time. The game was a dun deal and all that was awaited was the buzzer to make matters official. The lead soared to its largest margin in the clutch with Nikos Hatzivrettas forming the final score, 82-54 with two good shots from the charity stripe.
Referees: Pitsilkas, Anastopoulos, Stamatopoulos
Quarters: 21-14, 37-27, 56-38, 82-54
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Kecman, Perperoglou 13 (7r, 5a), Batiste 6, Fotsis 9, Hatzivrettas 2, Nicholas 8, Tsartsaris 8, Diamantidis 9, Pekovic 14, Sakota 4, Verginis, Jasikevicius 9
Maroussi (Markopoulos): Keys 8, Haralampidis, Padius 5, Koumpouras 19, Huff, Mavroidis, Mavrokefalidis 4, Calathes 7, Glyniadakis 9, Kaimakoglou 2, Tountziarakis, Papantoniou
