Panathinaikos beat Ilissiakos at a road game by 81-62 for day 2 in the Greek League.
It took only a few minutes in order for Panathinaikos to establish a pleasing and productive pace in the clash, in all given categories. 6-8 (4’10’’), flexed to 8-15 (6’20’’) and then on to 14-25 with the conclusion of the first quarter, Diamantidis and Nicholas creating opportunities for their teammates who then took advantage of each and every perfect pass dished towards their direction. Zeljko Obradovic had already gone into substitution strategy sharing action amongst Tepic and Calathes, leaving Diamantidis benched for the entire second quarter. As he did give time also to Kaimakoglou-Vougioukas and Maric keeping Batiste also away from action. The gap expanded even further between rivals, surpassed the 20 point marker initially at 16’35’’ (21-42) and the margin peaked at 18’20’’ when the greens were up by 22 (24-46), half time going into session with the score board reading 31-47. The clover had first say in rebounding (19-12) and assists (14-4), two elements that aided it significantly in creating a measurable distance from its hosts.
Ilissiakos behind Sakis Karidas in his first appearance since his com-back to the team, cut the trail down to 13 (36-49, 21’30’’). Batiste, Nicholas and a pair of free throws by Tsartsaris led back up to +20 a cushion (36-56, 24’15’’), only to mount +24 (37-61, 26’55’’) praise to a partial 1-11 and then some to +25 (39-64, 27’55’’) slightly prior to third quarter ending at 42-66. Obradovic had already used Kaimakoglou as SF and PF, whilst from last minutes in the third quarter and for approximately a full 5 minute period Kaimakogou-Maric-Vougioukas were featured all together on the floor. Karidas once again was he who sliced the margin (54-69, 35’30’’). The greens answered with a 6-0 run (54-75, 36’50’’). At 37’40’’ Obradovic pulled Paris Margkos off the bench, score at 57-77, curtains falling in the matchup behind final score 62-81.
Referees: Bitis, Mitsopoulos, Deslis
Quarters: 14-25, 31-47, 42-66, 62-81
Ilisiakos (Fragkias): Kapniaris, Thompson 4, Karidas 19 , Kiritsis 10, Papantoniou 5, Kanonidis, Koukoulas 2, Kasselakis 8, Baxter 8, Galiotos, Myles 6
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 3, Maric 6, Perperoglou 6, Batiste 5, Fotsis 11, Nicholas 10(4as), Tsartsaris 5, Diamantidis 2(4as), Vougioukas 6, Calathes 12, Kaimakoglou 15(16rbs, 5as), Maragkos
*The encounter hosted Paris Maragkos in his first ever participation in Panathinaikos’s line up for the Greek League.
Game quotes
Zeljko Obradovic, Panathinaikos, Head Coach: “We played well but committed many turnovers, an issue we should have avoided. We were not focused. Kostas Kaimakoglou had a great game. If he had made that triple it would have been a perfect game. It was a great performance at both ends of the court. Congratulations and all the best for the ensuing championship to Ilissiakos that trued to give a different pace to the game” head coach of Panathinaikos stated, only to add as far as the game time was concerned: “It is a good thing for basketball. To play at 1230h is far better than to play at 1400h, 1500h or 1600h. Of course the best is to play in the afternoon but if we must play early, it is best to be this way”.
Kostas Kaimakoglou,Panathinaikos, player: “From the beginning of the game we had to face the weird factor of the game time. We managed to do it and had certain very good periods of time. It is too early to draw conclusions. What we want it to become better and better, endure and improve”.
Vassilis Fragkias, Ilissiakos, Head Coach: “If we wanted to win Panathinaikos, the game should have taken place at… 6 in the morning. It is quite a few levels higher than us. The game was a good lesson for us, with our minds set on how to prepare for the game across from Iraklis. From tomorrow we will have an embellished paint-game with the additions of Todic and Juan Prowel”.
Sakis Karidas, Ilissiakos, player: “A game so early for the first time was something strange for the players. We were facing a huge team and all we can expect is to gain certain things in such encounters”.
