Victoriously and on the league’s top spot Panathinaikos came to the end of the championship’s first round after beating AEK by 86-82, in day 13 of the tournament. A “anything but easy” win provided only in the last few minutes of the encounter.
Panathinaikos led initially by 2-0, 1 minute into the game, but from then on AEK enjoyed the upper hand on the court, getting to lead even by six points (8-14, 6’10’’), Panathinaikos managing to tie (17-17, 9’) behind solutions provided by Dimitris Diamantidis (5-out of-5 free throws, 1-out of-1 two-pointers), but was unable to fly ahead, first quarter ending 19-21, Zeljko Obradovic having used 10 out of 12 players in his official lay-out (only Jasikevicius and Sakota had not been removed from pine-time yet).
When the game recommenced for the second quarter, coach Obradovic saw his team become more effective in defense, set its own rhythm, step on the accelerator, to mound to a +6 advantage (27-21, 12’45’’), consistency though still being absent. Lack of concentration led to turnovers, wrong choices, AEK was more lucky at the basket during this period of time and made the most out of all that was offered to it by the “Greens”, reaching a +8 advantage (34-42, 18’) and a half time lead of six points (40-46, 20’). Amongst the con’s for the guests was the 7/11 three-pointer statistic (across from Panathinaikos’ respective 1/4) but moreover the fact that they were the better team at one of the hosts specialties, that of assists, since the analogy was 11-to-6, in favor of AEK.
The lead arose to its +8 caliber once more (40-48, 21’), the “Greens” reaching to a 1 point distance from their opponent only at the end of the third quarter, Obradovic requesting of his players wiser choices in offence and greater effectiveness in defense when the fourth quarter started. A blocked shot and a basket by Stratos Perperoglou brought Panathinaikos back on top (62-61, 31’). The lead went back and forth, coach Obradovic using until minute 35 both Batiste and Pekovic in an attempt to control rebounding. Two triples connected on by the Dimitris Papanikolaou, kept AEK alive in the game and maintained the alternating leadership factor (73-74, 36’30’’). A 9-0 run provided the “Greens” with their greatest lead yet in the game (82-74, 38’40’’), before Papanikolaou unleashed another two threes, back-to-back, to make the score 84-82, 6 seconds left on the clock. Sarunas Jasikevicius with two charity shots after an immediately committed on him foul, formulated the score to 86-82, final game score.
Referees: Tanatzis-Anastopoulos-Vardalos
Quarters: 19-21, 40-46, 60-61, 86-82
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Kecman 7(3stl), Spanoulis 2, Perperoglou 4, Batiste 14(10rbs), Fotsis 9, Hatzivrettas 3, Nicholas, Tsartsaris 8, Diamantidis 18(4as), Pekovic 10, Jasikevicius 11
AEK (Flevarakis): Kyriakopoulos 3, Tapoutos 10, Vasilopoulos, Papanikolaou 21, Thomson 14, Hatzis 5, Dorkofikis 8, Kikerpill, Bryant 19, Andersen, Nemeth 2
