Panathinaikos took a stroll through the park in the encounter across from GS Olympia Larissas. In the premiere of the Greek League it dominated by 83-48 in the indoor stadium of Neapoly, Zeljko Obradovic being presented with a prime time opportunity to clear off the bench, Mike Batiste, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Kostas Tsartsaris left in Athens facing injuries.
It was a done deal on court in no time. It took the greens less than seconds to take control, lead and climb all the way up to 26-2 (8’40’’). The hosts broke into their score behind a two-pointer at 1’40’’ but had to wait quite some time to double their hoops, something that took place at last at 9’20’’, Demod Greene pairing his team’s buckets slightly before quarter 1 eventually ended at 6-26. The clover advantage mounted to a +28 caliber (12-40, 16’10’’), Vangelis Koutsokera’s players try though they might have, never got anywhere close to closing the gap that set them apart from Zeljko’s boys.
Panathinaikos’s head coach had sent out to face tip-off Calathes, Diamantidis, Tepic, Golemac and Pekovic and had used all 12 players at hand already at up to minute 10, minus Dimitris Verginis who nevertheless got his floor time before intermission (20-45). The greens had missed only a single free-throw (5/6), had 66% in twos (14/21) and 57% in threes (4/7), leaving no shadow of a doubt of who’s the boss in rebounds (22-9), Diamantidis alone accumulating 6 boards of his own accord, Milenko Tepic chipping in at the serving department, having dished 4 times in favor of his teammates. In all Panathinaikos enjoyed 13 assist whilst their opposing council had only 2.
Nothing seemed to match the greens’ medicine, regardless of any effort input in the clash on behalf of the home-team. The trail expanded to 34 points (20-54, 23’10’’) and remained in the same stature up until third quarter fulfillment (31-63).
Spanoulis pushed the two teams further apart to 35 points a distance (35-70, 32’40’’), score that saw to an even wider margin priced at 39 points (37-76, 35’15’’), Panathinaikos being represented at the time by Calathes, Verginis, Tepic, Fotsis and Bogris, the latter marking the final 48-83 game score, marking his Greek League career breaker bucket, a two-hander over the head slammer at that.
Referees: Mouzakis, Stamatopoulos, Somos (Minaretzopoulos)
Quarters: 6-26, 20-45, 31-63, 48-83
GS Olympia (Koutsokeras): Popovic 2, Greene 11, Papachristos 1, Salsbery 7, Bogdanos 1, Todic 2, Papakostas 2, Trichopoulos, Massie 12, Butler 10
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 8 (6 a), Spanoulis 9, Perperoglou 7, Fotsis 7, Golemac 2, Nicholas 8, Diamantidis 2 (7rbs, 4 as, 3stls), Pekovic 14 (6rbs, 3bls), Calathes 15, Shermadini 9 (7rbs), Verginis, Bogris 2
*The mayor of Larissa presented Fragiskos Alvertis with a “years achievement” award but also the referee Nikos Pitsilkas before tip-off. Alvertis was also awarded by Apostolis Malakos on behalf of GS Olympia Larissas and referee Pitsilkas who withdrew from action was awarded by the president of HEBA Vassilis Oikonomidis
*Many problems arose on court due to heavy rainfall that leaked through the rooftop down on many parts of the court where towels had been applied not only around the court lines but actually in bounds of the floor! Finally the game was interrupted for a 15 minute period of time, midway through third quarter in order for the linoleum cloths that hung as a protection from the cracks on the sealing to be emptied from the water rain accumulation and for the court to be mopped so as to avoid any possible injuries. The players were forced to be especially careful, whilst some did not manage to avoid slipping, all the people of the stadium and of the home-team nevertheless trying to do everything in the power to make immense and improve the situation.
Press Conference
Zeljko Obradovic (Panathinaikos, coach): “The most important thing is that we played a serious game throughout the entire duration. Essentially these are our principals. To respect both ourselves and the opponent, this is why we kept focused from minute one. I tried to offer action to the players that joined the team this year, especially Tepic, Calathes and Golemac. Overall I am pleased with the disposition and the maturity but errors did occur that could have been avoided. Good luck to GS Olympia on the continuance of the League. As far as the situation on court, the local people explained what was going on to us and did everything in their power to make it possible for the game to continue. In my 11 years with the team something similar has never happened but the collectiveness and the efforts of the implicated parties to come to the aid of the problem were all towards achieving a normal game function. Great games always take place here in Larissa. It was an unlucky moment, but everyone worked towards finding a solution to help the encounter come to a smooth ending”.
Vangelis Koutsokeras (GS Olympia Larissas, coach): “I would like to thank the Panathinaikos’s coaches for encouraging us for what’s next. The most important thing for me, actually for all of us is that not a single player got injured. I would not like to comment on the state of the stadium anymore. It is a granted fact for us, what happens when it rains. For us, as far as the game goes, we know that when you play especially across from Panathinaikos, apart from court problems, other issues might emerge such as attitude mishaps between players, miscommunication with the bench. From tomorrow already we will scout out our competitive mistakes, to be prepared for our next encounter. We can’t linger long on the clash with Panathinaikos, seeing that the class is years apart especially when the state of our team is what it is now. A discussion with Nestoras Kommatos has taken place and he seems eager to help-out. All that remains now is discussions with the player’s representative. The crowd turn-out was larger than expected and it is something that encourages us more. Surely our image will not remain the same next. We hope for our fans’ support even more down the road”.
Vassilis Spanoulis (Panathinaikos, player): “It is the Greek League premiere. It is essential for us to play at the same level either we are in an official encounter either we are simply in practice. We were very collected in our game regardless of the dire situations presented on court, an issue that baffles me, it makes me sad to say so, seeing that Larissa is my home-town. We respect each and every team the same, look upon each and every encounter with the respective severity, we got to our first victory, an aspired result for the Greek League opening”.
Dimitris Bogdanos (GS Olympia Larissas, player): “Initially I would like to wish a great season to the entire Panathinaikos team but also to our team, hopefully that it might slide by healthy. As far as today’s game, in a word I would describe us as disappointing. I do not know what exactly was to blame neither will I try to find any excuses. We must work harder, right our wrongs, bond as a team. We have not yet discovered one another’s game. One goes this way the other goes another. We need some time, not trying to make an excuse. And I hope we’ll find our team chemistry so us to have a good run through the League”.
*The press conference for the encounter with Khimki for game 2 of the preliminary round of the Euroleague will take place in the OAKA stadium press room on Tuesday, October 27, at 18:30
