Panathinaikos started off the Greek League season behind a home win. At the OAKA stadium, it downed opponent PAOK 108-61.
The home-team took hold of the game’s reigns straight after tip-off. A swift 8-0 run (2’15’’), made things quite clear on the court across from a 5 player roster presented by PAOK for the encounter, Marshall, McGrath, Sims, Gray and Gecevski. Zeljko Obradovic had all his players at his disposal. The gap reached 10 points (14-4, 4’15’’), first quarter rested at 27-14, whilst teams headed to the locker rooms, distance between them priced at 32 points (54-22). The ante only upped even further reaching the 40 point marker (74-33, 25’50’’), all the way up to +47, stature at which the third quarter ended (84-37). Drew Nicholas sunk a three to get the clover up by 50 (87-37) in the first offense of the final quarter and slightly later the same culprit marked the 90-40 score (32’). Kaimakoglou, Batiste and Calathes sailed the greens to +56 (98-42, 34’), the latter making the centurion bucket; to be exact 101-46 making the most out of a three-point-play (36’). The match-up closed at 108-61.
Referees: Anastopoulos, Goumas, Panagiotou
Quarters: 27-14, 54-22, 84-37, 108-61
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 14 (6 as), Maric10 (7rbs), Perperoglou 12, Batiste 6, Fotsis 14, Sato 4, Nicholas 16, Tsartsaris 3, Diamantidis 3, Vougioukas 4, Calathes 12, Kaimakoglou 10
PAOK (Markopoulos): Marshall 10, McGrath, Sims 20, Gray 20, Gecevski 11
*The victory is the largest ever against PAOK.
Press Conference
Zeljko Obradovic, stated after the game: “I am sorry that we had to get to this point. It’s a bad situation for everybody. Instead of a game in front of our fans after five months away from OAKA, the fans gave the better answer; all of us working in basketball and for basketball we are guilty for this situation, because it’s not something that was created yesterday. Players ask for the same things since last year. All this is bad for basketball. I can’t understand how my colleague managed to play with just five players. I know serious he is as a person and how difficult it is to play as they would like to play. About the game, the only thing I can say is that we played seriously. Good luck to PAOK”.
Obradovic was asked how easy was it for him to be coach is such a game: “I am professional. Somebody is paying me, I sign a contract and I have to do my job. Do you really believe that I am happy with the situation that we had to face today? Nobody is happy! But we have to do our job. I would like to ask the State, HEBA, the Federation, or anybody else who is involved, to find a solution, so that we can have a normal championship. This situation is easy for no one!”
Mike Batiste added: “The situation was very strange today. We are professionals. We practiced really hard for this game and we were ready to play against the whole PAOK team. Our next game is against CSKA Moscow. As professionals every time we step on the floor we are obliged to give our best, no matter what”.
