Panathinaikos got to an easy win by 88-61 against Apollon Patras for the first Play Offs game in Basket League OPAP. The second game will be played in Patras on Thursday the 8th of May at 20.00.
Panathinaikos got into the game exactly the way the team wanted. A 9-0 (2'43'') was the message of what was going to happen later on both in offense and defense. Apollon tried to find solutions, cut the lead (12-8, 5'20''), but Greens were decisive and a shot behind the arc made by Dimitris Diamantidis led to a double digit margin for the first time (18-8, 6'10''). The "clover" never looked back and Fragkiskos Alvertis had the chance to use all his players early in the game. Vladimir Jankovic brought energy to the team and he helped the team to go all the way to +17 (32-15) at the half time behind a steal by Vlado and a three point shot made by Ramel Curry.
Greens didn't continue in the same rhythm returning in the game. Apollon got closer (32-22, 13'). The first field goal in the second quarter was made by Jonas Maciulis at 15' (34-22). The next five minutes it was like it was just Panathinaikos on the floor. The margin went up to 17 points again (43-27, 19'18''), with George Diamantkos, the 19year old center going 2/2 from the line.
Panathinaikos dominated in the third quarter when the partial score was 31-7. The margin widened, got to +30 points at 25' (62-31) by Lasme, went all the way to +39 at 30' behind a goal foul by George Diamantakos (74-35), while a three point shot by Nikos Pappas led to 40 points (79-39, 31'20''). The rest of the game was just a "typical procedure" until the final 88-61, with both coaches giving time to the younger players.
Referees: Papapetrou, Tavoulareas, Poursanidis
Quarters: 32-15, 43-28, 74-35, 88-61
Panathinaikos (Alvertis): Bramos 7, Curry 9, Ukic 8, Lasme 8, Mavrokefalidis 9, Diamantidis 7, Gist 6 (7r, 5a), Pappas 3 (4st), Jankovic 10 (6r, 4a), Diamantakos 9, Maciulis 8, Wright 4
Apollon P. (Vetoulas): Ross 3, Kaperonis, Daniel 14, Wilson 9, Lianos 16, Oikonomopoulos, Petrovic 3, Pelekoudas, Molfetas, Niforas 4, Milutinovic 3, Hott 9
