Panathinaikos is as of now in the finals of the Greek League. It prevailed over Aris by 71-69 at the OAKA arena sweeping its opponent 3-0 towards the last phase.
With ups and downs in its pace’s rhythm and trailing in the score Panathinaikos chased its guest all the way up to the half of the second quarter. It led first (4-0 at 1’, 7-3 at 1’45’’) only to be out staged by its visitor who not only managed to tie in the game (7-7 at 2’30’’) but moreover to get on top at the conclusion of the first period (17-18) just to see on to the second quarter with a 6 point advantage (17-23 at 12’45’’). Spanoulis shared triples with Kecman to even things out (23-23 at 13’30’’), the same scenario played out again next, featuring Aris getting away by 4 and the “Greens” drawing, before they stepped up to gain the encounter’s reigns in the last minutes leading towards intermission, mounting a +6 edge (37-31, 19’20’’) and heading towards the locker rooms 4 points away from their rivals (37-33).
Lacking the pair of Diamantidis and Jasikevicius and currently having Spanoulis feeling some discomfort in his ankle after a tricky crooked step at minute 6 in the game, point guard position was assigned to Nikos Hatzivrettas who was actually the culprit of two stop and pop jumpers from the bank that set the 31-31 score and built the foundations for Panathinaikos’ succeeding 10-0 run. Rebound dominance (15-to-10) and greater validation at shooting where the pros for the “clover” whilst both teams had each committed 8 turnovers up to the break.
Hatzivrettas, Nicholas, Perperoglou, Tsartsaris and Batiste were the opening 5’ for part 2. The first turned out to be the key for Panathinaikos’ first double digit lead alongside a great moment with double stops from Nicholas and Batiste, the latter nevertheless being charged with a foul. It was though the marker of the “Green” awakening so much for the team as for the crowd that suddenly stated its status as live and kicking, jogged by back to back triples unleashed by Hatzivrettas and Tsartsaris, score at 48-38 (24’40’’).
Dimitris Tsaldaris was the one who single handedly answer to the siege and with 5 consecutive points allowed his team to gain on its host once more (48-43, 26’45’’). On the other end of the court Batiste and Tsartsaris struck from inside the paint to punish their opponents (52-43, 28’25’’) and on came Nikola Pekovic to up the ante and reestablish the lead to its +10 level at third quarter buzzer (56-46). It was also he who formed a +12 cushion when the game recommenced (58-46, 30’40’’), Spanoulis chipped in towards +13 (62-49, 34’) although Aris still found solutions from beyond the arc in the faces of Argyropoulos and Tsaldaris (62-55, 34’40’’). The “Greens” got to +11 again (68-57, 37’10’’) only to see the same scenery arise on court with triples from all over the place either from Tsaldaris, Barlos or Argyropoulos (70-67, 39’10’’). A net from the charity stripe buried by Antonis Fotsis was the game closer that sealed Panathinaikos’ third win in the semi-final round, clash ending 71-69.
Referees: Christodoulou – Spiridonos – Tavoulareas
Quarters: 17-18,37-33, 56-46, 71-69
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Kecman 3(5rbs), Spanoulis 16(4as, 7df), Perperoglou 2, Batiste 12(6rbs), Fotsis 2, Hatzivrettas 8(2stl), Nicholas 3, Tsartsaris 14, Pekovic 11, Sakota
Aris (Mazzon): Betts 6, Nelson 11, Argyropoulos 10, Iliadis 10, Gavel 2, Agadakos 7, Barlos 6, Tsaldaris 15
*Panathinaikos was short by two, Dimitris Diamantidis and Sarunas Jasikevicius who are respectively facing abdomen and knee pains. Aris was lacking Keydren Clark and Bracey Wright.
