After a tough match-up Panathinaikos snatched the win it longed for in Poland from Asseco Prokom by 67-60 in 2009 Euroleague regular season game 5. With a somewhat unusual initial 5 –although truth be told, with Panathinaikos you never really know which will be the starting line-up- Zeljko Obradovic started off the game. Surrounding the jump-ball where Spanoulis-Hatzivrettas-Kecman-Batiste-Tsartsaris across from Logan-Ewing-Archibong-Hrycaniuk-Burrell. The result on the court was that connection between the two American guards, who are basic elements that kick the Polish team into gear, and their teammates was corrupted. They were kept in the shallow end of the performing pool from minute one in the game whilst, not considering the two first plays in the paint, the “Greens” defensive rebounding worked like clockwise, this fact being yet another matter that abstracted from Prokom’s assets. Two committed fouls in less than four minutes presence in the encounter by Patrick Burke (from 4’ until 7’45’’) made things even more complex. First baskets from perimeter players for the hosting team came at minute 8, culprit being Logan and then two consecutive times Burrell awarded his team with the games reigns 16-14 and then 18-16, only to sum up the score board readings for the first quarter. In this period of time let it be noted that Obradovic had already used 10 out of 12 players at hand (still benched were Nicholas and Verginis).
Panathinaikos slowly got to feeling the game after a couple of minutes had been played out in the second quarter, featuring Diamantidis-Spanoulis-Nicholas-Fotsis-Pekovic, still controlling the two American guards of their opponent team, but also by getting great help from their teams tall guys heaving the lead to +12 (36-24, 18’), substitution made from coach Obradovic (Kecman-Batiste) not affecting the “Greens’” rhythm. Neither zone defense was able to stop the “three-leaf-clover team” although zone defense was executed perfectly from the visitors. The last mentioned score was actually the one that sent teams to recess. Up to now Panathinaikos celebrated great performance in two basic categories: The offensive rebounds (9-to-4 in favor of Panathinaikos) and the restriction of scoring from the two American guards (by now 7 points and all from Logan). But the most important factor was the respective score in the second quarter: 6-20!
Second half brought the gap up to +14 for the “Greens” (24-38, 20’40’’), Prokom tried to fight back pulling maybe the last ace from its sleeve in the game. Patrick Burke’s fourth foul that came at 24’40’’, certainly wasn’t the best news for coach Pacesas, who saw his team reduced their trail to 8 points (32-40, 24’20’’), only to get run down once more to 32-45 (28’) down to third quarter buzzer, score 37-47.
The Polish tried to take advantage of any mistakes their opponents might have committed, fought mightier at the battle of the boards, reached the score to a 6 point distance (41-47, 30’30’’), a bit later to 4 at which point Mike Batiste got charged with his fourth personal foul (31’) and then even to 2 (45-47, 32’) all four last points provided by the charity stripe. The tie basket for Prokom came at 33’ (50-50) when Nesovic decided to dial long distance. Diamantidis brought Panathinaikos to lead with a three-point play (52-55, 36’10’’) only to see Mike Batiste get fouled out in the next play. Spanoulis stepped up for his team finally making a triple in the game and jogged it to a +4 gap (54-58, 36’50’’). It was these two (Spanoulis and Diamantidis) who undertook the assignment to draw their team out of its offensive “pickle”, Diamantidis actually tallying 10 points from 32’ (45-47) until 39’. The “Greens” had sealed their triumph with the final score 60-67.
Referees: Pukl, Lefwerth, Vojinovic
Quarters: 18-16, 24-36, 37-47, 60-67
Asseco Prokom (Pacesas): Archibong 7, Dylewicz 4, Nesovic 3, Logan 16, Zamojski, Burrell 8, Burke 11, Ewing 6, Hrycaniuk 5
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Kecman, Spanoulis 12, Batiste 7, Fotsis 7, Hatzivrettas 2, Nicholas 7, Tsartsaris, Diamantidis 15, Pekovic 15, Sakota 2, Jasikevicius
Quotes:
Zeljko Obradovic was satisfied from his players’ performance against Prokom, although the team didn’t get to an appearance of great caliber. The “Greens’” coach amongst other things stressed: “The game played out the way we expected, since we were up against a strong team that enjoys great felicity in collecting offensive rebounds. We also knew that this would be a hard game after the encounter with Olympiakos, but we came up motivated and focused for most of the game. We were very good in defense, especially in the first half, in which period of time, we managed to control offensive rebounding over our hosts who gathered only 4. Good defensive behavior from Spanoulis, Hatzivrettas that started out in the game, but also from all the players in general. Our problem tonight was in offense where we missed many unguarded shots whilst we committed a few mistakes at the end of the third quarter. After our defeat from Panellinios we played three very important games and responded very well. Prokom is a fighter. Every team is over-motivated to prevail against us”. On the other side Thomas Pacesas noted: “Offensive rebounds picked up by Panathinaikos destroyed us and we made many mistakes at vital moments. In a game, details matter the most”.
