Panathinaikos was better throughout the game, overcame a bad fourth quarter edging Olympiacos 59-56 to make it 1-0 in the Basket League OPAP finals. The two teams will meet again on the 26th of May at 19.45 at SEF.
Greens stepped on the court in the best possible way. They managed to build a 15 point margin (19-4, 7'50''). The guest team managed to make a field goal at 1'15'' of the game and then again at 8'55'' to make it 19-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Panathinaikos were able to use their defense to cut the access to the basket for their opponents and held the lead, despite the fact they were 0/9 behind the arc at the half time. Diamantidis, Ukic, Lasme and Maciulis, who did excellent job posting up whoever was sent to guard him, helped clover get to +16 (24-8, 11'32''), as Loukas Mavrokefalidis got for three shots at the charity line with the clock at 24''. The first three point shot of the game which made it through the basket was made by the guests at 14'15''. They went on shooting behind the arc to get to a single digit margin (31-23, 18'). Lasme and Maciulis helped Panathinaikos to get to move to +12 (35-23, 19').
The guests moved the ball in the paint, cut the deficit to three points (35-32, 22'10''). The first (and only) shot of Panathinaikos behind the arc came at 22'20'' by James Gist to give a 6point lead to his team (38-32). When the gap closed again (38-36, 24'30''), Jonas Maciulis and Gist where there to lead back to +11 (51-40, 29'30''). Greens scored again with Stephane Lasme and the Lithuanians to tie the game (53-53, 38') and to give the lead back to Panathinaikos (55-53, 39'15''). The guests decided to lead the game to the charity line. The Greens were sharp (59-53) only for Mat Lojeski to deliver for the final 59-56.
Referees: Gontas, Tanatzis, Tavoulareas
Quarters: 19-6, 35-26, 51-41, 59-56
Panathinaikos (Alvertis): Bramos, Curry 2, Fotsis, Ukic 4, Lasme 11, Mavrokefalidis 5, Diamantidis 9 (6assists), Gist 11, Maciulis 15 (8reb), Wright 2
Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Petway, Dunston 13, Spanoulis 7, Perperoglou 15, Papapetrou, Sloukas 2, Collins, Lojeski 6, Printezis 6, Mantzaris
PHOTOS
