Panathinaikos was a poor image of itself and mainly due to erratic behavior lost to Panellinios in the Kypseli indoor stadium 84-74 in game 6 of the Greek League, facing its first negative result on Greek soil. A good opening was not enough to provide Panathinaikos with a sense of certainty it sought for during the first quarter. After the initial 3-0 for the home team, the “Greens” got away by 3-10 (3’), but Panellinios’ defense consisting of continuous pressure on Nicola Pekovic alongside its validness from beyond the arc jogged it to a 9-0 streak to make the score 12-12 (5’45’’).
Zeljko Obrandovic having already gone ahead with many substitutions saw his players finish up the first quarter in the pole position by 24-18, mostly due to broadening the encounter’s rhythm but also thanks to solutions brought about through good defense. Nevertheless Panellinios found its way to measure up, especially when it was patient in circulating the ball and won one after the other offensive rebounds (5 in all for the first half of the game). This exact combination was what awarded it the reigns of the encounter (28-27, 14’10’’), only to see Panathinaikos substantially react with a 2-12 sweep (30-39, 18’50’’) but then get approached closely once more by its host to a three point distance at the half time buzzer (36-39).
With the game going into the second half, Panathinaikos gained a +4 advantage (36-40, 20’30’’) but only temporarily since the answer came almost immediately from the other implicated party hence the score 44-42 (23’30’’) and further on 51-45 (26’10’’), featuring Panellinios prevailing in the battle of the boards (23-16) and remaining valid from a three point range (5/12). Nicola Pekovic’s fourth foul which took place straight after (26’30’’) presented Panathinaikos with a needy problem, the gap kept growing until the score reached 60-51 (28’30’’) hosting Radenovic undertaking the role of Panellinios’ go-to-guy, although Panathinaikos still got a few many-hoped-for breathers thanks to Stratos Perperoglou who connected two back-to-back triples. But they were not enough, since the hosts were determent to snatch the win and kept matters in their own hands as far as the game was concerned even until the end of the third quarter, score at 64-57. The margin between the two opponents reached a double figure for the first time in the game,(68-57, 31’), fourth quarter recommencing. It was imperative that the “Greens” embark on a come-back and luckily enough they did with a 8-0 streak, getting up on their rival, trimming their loss down to 3 (68-65 at 33’10’’, 73-70 at 36’’).
Alas duration and consistency were nowhere to be found when on the other hand Panellinios chose its plays wisely and climbed back up to a +8 advantage (80-72, 38’20’’) with a three point jumper by Yorgos Kalaitzidis, basket that actually summed up the game’s outcome in favor of Panellinios, final score at 84-74.
Referees: Mouzakis – Iliopoulos - Kaldiris
Quarters: 18-24, 36-39, 64-57, 84-74
Panellinios (Zouros): Ostojic 7, Papamakarios 7, Kalaitzidis 6, Kalaitzis 9 (5as), Grundy 9, Newley 5, Nadjfeji, Petrovic, Golemac 16 (8reb, 9as, 4stl), Radenovic 21
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Kecman 4, Spanoulis 5 (4as), Perperoglou 12, Batiste 7, Fotsis 12, Nicholas, Tsartsaris 8, Diamantidis 6 (6as), Pekovic 4 (7reb), Jasikevicius 16
* Absent from the game’s official line-up were Fragiskos Alvertis and Dimitris Verginis.
