Panathinaikos went for its first victory across from play-off first round opponent Panionios. At a home game in OAKA stadium it prevailed by 92-57, not once having been threatened by its guest. Both teams will meet again on Monday (3/5) at the indoor arena in Nea Smirni (18.45h, SKAI).
All the fight Panionios could put up was performed in the first three minutes off tip-off, during which time it managed to get in the lead. Panathinaikos however picked up the pace and from that point forward everything became much easier on the floor for Zeljko Obradovic’s team. Pressure in defense, superlative at board gathering plus better range stats presented the host with the leading role on court. It went up by 10 (18-8, 7’10’’), mounted a +12 edge twice in the 1st quarter (22-10 at 9’ and 25-13 at 9’30’’), only to improve its performance in the 2nd quarter managing to head towards the locker rooms for the break leading by 49-28 off a triple behind Milenko Tepic.
The aforementioned Serbian guard continue in the same fashion game recommencing, making the most out of fast breaks and great connections with his teammates to sail Panathinaikos to a sweet +26 cushion (54-28, 22’). Vassilis Spanoulis chipped in from the line to +31 (61-30, 26’) only to be copied slightly after by fellow-mate Antonis Fotsis to +35 (66-31, 27’10’’) as the third quarter concluded at a 36 point gap stature (74-38), the margin between teams reaching its greatest price at 31’20’’ (78-39). The game was of procedural manor all the way down to final score 92-57 which marked Panathinaikos’s first win of the play-off round.
Referees: Schinas, Mitsopoulos, Andrikopoulos
Quarters: 27-16, 49-28, 74-38, 92-57
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 17, Spanoulis 8, Perperoglou 7, Batiste 12, Fotsis 5, Nicholas 12, Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 6, Pekovic 8, Clathes 5, Shermadini 4,
Jasikevicius 4
Panionios (Markovic): Rice 8, Bryant 4, Zoroski 11, Papanikolaou, Borovnjak 12, Charitopoulos 5, Giannopoulos, Erceg 3, Jankovic 2, Paragios, Athineou 10, Elder 2
Game quotes
Coach Obradovic didn’t have much to say about the first clash of the play-offs amongst Panathinaikos and Panionios. “There is not much to be stated about the game. We played maturely and focused and we beat at team which has much more potential than what it presented this evening. It is certain that Panionios on Monday will be an improved team. This is something that the players know and we will be properly prepared for the particular encounter. Anyhow, I would like to congratulate out fans for yet another time for their appearance at the arena and their support”.
Milenko Tepic noted: “We won by a great difference since we were focused for the entire 40 minutes of game time and in the same way we should play on Monday seeing that Panionios will be a better team than this evening. We are expecting a tough encounter. Our opponent in its home-court knows how to play well, it gets great range and it is strong. We will prepared well and will be ready for game number 2. We look ahead and continue…”
Panionios’s coach Nenad Markovic stated amongst other things: “Congratulations to Panathinaikos for its mature game during all 40 minutes game time. It proved that it is righteously Greek and European champ. At some point of the clash just gave up and this is the worst way to lose. It is a terrible thing to see a player like Jasikevicius step on court while his team is leading by 30 and instrument such passion, score, dish the ball give it his all while my players who have won no titles not input any kind of effort whatsoever. This is the difference of course between the two team and undoubtedly Panathinaikos if the better opponent. We will try to fight on Monday and present a better image”.
Finally, Dejan Brovnjak stated: “Congatulations to Panathinaikos for its victory, it proved itself to be ready for the play-offs with its performance whilst we were not so good. I hope we are better on Monday”.
Mike Batiste all time second best scorer in the history of Panathinaikos
Mike Batiste breached a very important fort during his performance across from Panionios. The 12 points he tallied at the end of the clash got him up to 2292 in the Panathinaikos jersey, flying ahead of Dejan Bodiroga (2285), currently posing in second potion of the respective list. Pole position of the list is held by Frangiskos Alvertis behind 4698 points!
