Panathinaikos downed Kavala at a home game behind the final 81-63 score for game 20 of the HEBA League.
First quarter of the encounter was not exactly what Panathinaikos aspired to present on court. Kavala enjoyed the upper hand in the clash. It picked up the boards, it got to more opportunities to run the open field, managing even to get up by 14 points (10-24, 8’45’’) taking its host entirely by surprise seeing that the greens were lacking focus hence being unable to get to proper collaborations at both ends of the court.
Clover image improved in the second quarter as they got some range from the perimeter, seeming ever more determined in offense. A pair of threes off Drew Nicholas plus one poured in by Diamantidis, effectiveness in backcourt all led to 27-29 (14’20’’). At this point Antonis Fotsis traded his spot with Kostas Tsartsaris, the latter getting finally back in action after last being seen on the 17th of January. Nick Calathes cut the trail down to a single point from the line (30-31, 15’30’’), slightly before Palacio decided to drill a triple to 30-34 (16’), Bruno Sudov getting to his third personal trifecta of the evening to 32-37 (17’30’’) and then some to his fourth at 18’30’’ to mark 35-40, intermission going into session with the score board reading 38-42 in favor of the visitors.
Drew Nicholas unleashed a shot from beyond the arc to set things straight in the matchup, providing Panathinaikos with the lead (46-44, 24’30’’) and was copied by Diamantidis to stretch the gap to 5 (49-44, 25’35’’), alas Palacio dialed long distance next to creep back up on his hosts to 49-47 at 25’45’’. Nicholas had more to his three-pointer arsenal as he scored yet again to 53-47 (27’), Stratos Perperoglou picked his opponent’s pocket in the succeeding defense, got his rivals to commit a flagrant foul on him and got three free throws netted to get Panathinaikos to 56-47 (27’20’’). Double digit distance was marked for the first time in favor of the clover after 30 minutes had been played out on the floor, Mie Batiste chipping in a 3rd quarter buzzer bucket to 60-50.
The gap closed though yet again as the game recommenced. Sudov heaved in one more of his many triples, but an unsportsmanlike foul charged to Pekovic was an extra assistance to close the margin to a single point (60-59, 33’ Peko’s third personal). 5 consecutive points off Jasi jogged to greens to step away by 6 (65-59, 33’25’’). Perperoglou stated his business loud and clear on court, Batiste hooped to up the ante to +14 (75-61, 37’’), Diamantidis popped a triple from the corner of the arc to 78-63, Mike Batiste added even further to 79-63 (39’), Calathes closing the deal in the game with final basket to 81-63.
Referees: Voreadis, Andrikopoulos, Tsonos
Quarters: 13-24, 38-42, 60-50, 81-63
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 3, Perperoglou 6, Batiste 18, Fotsis 3, Nicholas 15, Tsartsaris 1, Diamantidis 11, Pekovic 7, Calathes 6, Verginis, Jasikevicius 11
Kavala (Alexandris): Nikou, Sundov 21, Stefanidis 2, Aggelopoulos 2, Collins 8, Iliadis 3, Palacio 16, Rajcevic 5, Kyritsis 6, Ceranic, Gustas
*Panathinaikos’s roster was lacking Vassilis Spanoulis (tendonitis to the left knee), Marcus Haislip (hematoma to the left knee) and Giorgi Shermadini (he is not allowed to participate in the Greek League).
*Kostas Tsartsaris returned to the Panathinaikos line-up for the first time since January the 17th 2010, from the encounter AEK-Panathinaikos at the Elliniko indoor stadium, where he had suffered a fracture in the side of his palm.
*At the OAKA indoor stadium children with special needs from the center “Arogi”, of the Municipal Acharnon were hosted.
”Try a little harder”
Straight after the end of the clash amongst Panathinaikos and Kavala, coach Zeljko Obradovic stated: “There is a huge difference amongst the two halves and especially in the first quarter. Every time an interval occurs, things get tougher. And now, things are even harder due to all the injuries we are facing and we can’t perform a good practice. Even Verginis was facing a small injury. Bogris missed many trainings, Perperoglou only got to participate in one, Jasikevicius is facing the problems he has, Tsartsaris was sidelined for two months, Diamantidis also only took part in a single practice, Pekovic if I remember correctly has made two practices in the last month. Spanoulis and Haislip are sidelined. So, we have 100% ready Fotsis who has played in every single game this season, Batiste who despite all his troubles always puts in the work and then we have two players who work exquisitely though play miserably, Tepic and Calathes. And this is an extremely hard situation because I was forced to put pressure on Diamantidis and Perperoglou. And after this we have a period of time to work hard so as to be ready for the play-offs. This means what? Certain players have problems. I never pushed them, but now even if they are in little pain I will have to put pressure on them. There are only two months to go and this is the only way to adjust well enough for the only goal left. I do not believe that they don’t give it their all or even that they do not put the team above their selves. But they must try a bit harder to help, at least in the trainings. Only a little bit harder will suffice”.
Coach Vangelis Alexandris noted: “I am pleased with my team’s performance. We played with discipline and tactics. We came and tried to contain our opponents as much as we could. Our first half was magnificent, in the second half Panathinaikos got to better performance and razed its stats. We try to play with totalitarianism in our game, to base our basketball on correct choices and good tactics. After the break in the league Panathinaikos wasn’t as ready as presumed. When all sidelined players return it will become mighty strong. We too had absences an element that made things hard for us on court because Panathinaikos has tall small forwards and we got one of our main weapons in fouling trouble as Michalis Kyritsis got charged with 3. Huff was ill thus he did not play or even come along with the delegation”.
