An easy win alongside a good appearance was input by Panathinaikos at a home game in the OAKA arena by beating Kolossos Rhodes in game 15 of the Greek League 91-53.
Thirsty not only for victory but also for the presentation of good game Panathinaikos stepped on to the court. Intentions were crystal clear from minute one. Strong defense , battle at every play, correct switches and cross covering in defensive rotations, moreover the effort not to allow space for their opponents to develop, correct decisions in offence, clear intention from everyone’s part to be involved in frontcourt movement and finally great ball circulation either way Kolossos chose to defend its backcourt, man-to-man or zone.
The consequences of this good form showed up on the score board in its most flagrant fashion. The guests led in the encounter only once (2-3 at 40’’) but from then on the game was “clover” matters. At 2’30’’ into the game the score was at 9-7, but a 14-0 run flexed it to 23-7 (6’30’’). The quarter closed at 26-14, only to lead into a second one hosting Obradovic’s boys in the same mood as before. Coach himself many times applauded efforts of his players even if the ball did not drop through the net, approving of their “politically correct” choices; let them have been passes or shots or simple attempts. A new streak 12-0 for the “Greens” made the score from 33-23 to 45-23 just before the first half ended with a 23 point edge for Panathinaikos, Drew Nicholas getting the score to 50-27. In the first part of the game Panathinaikos had made its guest commit double turnovers (7-to-13), had double its assists (8-to-4) and quadruple its steals (8-to-2) mainly praised to an unbelievable Dimitris Diamantidis who capped up a superb 20 minute run behind 3/3 two-pointers, 1/1 threes, 3 assists and 5 steals in 11’21’’ game time.
Nikola Pekovic went to the bank behind two free shots and sent his team’s advantage into an over 30 points level (60-29, 24’40’’), only for it to be raised even higher to +35 (65-30, 26’) and then some to +36 after two charity shots by Vassilis Spanoulis (71-35, 29’15’’), moments before the third quarter ended (71-36), Mike Batiste getting fouled-out. Things remained in the same tempo, Kolossos had no way to fight-back, trailing even by 40 points at 34’40’’, a margin that was yet again accomplished later after a triphecta unleashed by Nikos Hatzivrettas (79-40,35’) and then one last time at 39’ (91-51), until curtains dropped in the encounter, score at the final 91-53.
Referees: Foufis-Afentoulidis-Katrahouras
Quarters: 26-14, 50-27, 71-36, 91-53
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Kecman 3, Spanoulis 6, Perperoglou 8, Batiste 4, Fotsis 10, Hatzivrettas 11, Nicholas 10, Tsartsaris 1, Diamantidis 13, Pekovic 15, Sakota 5, Jasikevicius 5
Kolossos Rhodes (Sfairopoulos): Harris 6, Panteliadis 3, Papanikolopoulos 4, Vasiljevic 8, Djogo, Asimakopoulos 1, Smith 14, Harissis 7, Tsamis 2, Ceranic 8
*The official line-up did not feature Fragiskos Alvertis, Giorgi Shermadini and Dimitris Verginis.
