What a matchup it was, that led Panathinaikos to a triumphant victory, as it went for a home court win for Euroleague game 8 versus Union Olimpija by final 95-88. The greens might have been down by 72-77 only seconds before the regular game buzzer, however 13 consecutive points behind Dimitris Diamantidis introduced the clover with an OT period, during which Drew Nicholas drained triples “all day” to put the last nail in the Slovenians’ coffin an chip in towards a partial 16-9 for the extra 5 minutes of game-time. Victory which gives the clover an edge towards top spot in its Euroelague group.
A superlative that Panathinaikos seemed to have in the clash was not interpreted into any kind of a safety cushion in the first half of the battle. Olimpija, as it has proven all through the championship up to date, fought at every play, challenged every ball up for grabs and unraveled a come-back every time the greens embarked on an attempt to step away from their guests. Zeljko Obradovic watched as his boys went up by 7 (21-14, 8’35’’) settled by a three off Perperoglou and slightly later as they mounted a +9 advantage (26-17, 11’20’’). The Slovenians nevertheless managed to cut the trail down to a single point (31-30, 16’20’’) only for the break to come into session, score temporarily resting at 37-33. Panathinaikos during this period of time had dominated at the rebound (15-8), picking up 8 offensive boards, but at the same time had already committed the equivalent number of turnovers.
Olimpija managed to tie, getting from 39-33 (20’20’’) to 39-39 (22’), Markota chipping in to present his team with the lead (39-41, 22’50’’). Mike Batiste brought home a 4 point in a row gathering to his team’s tally in order for the clover to regain first say on the floor (43-41, 24’25’’), alas it found itself trailing yet again a little later by 3 (43-46, 25’). Antonis Fotsis stepped up to reset match program on the court (46-46, 25’40’’) and then some to offer a breather to the greens when the team fell back giving in to Olimpija’s charge to a 4 point advantage (46-50, 27’20’’). The Greek Forward picked up the slack to 1 point a shadow (49-50, 27’40’’) flushing the ball to a basket +1, Perperoglou drew from the line to (50-50, 28’15’’). Third quarter though, concluded in a visitor’s lead (50-54) which actually flexed to a 9 point cushion at the beginning of the fourth quarter (50-59, 32’), mostly off exploitation of Panathinikos’s mistakes. The siege was ended behind Kostas Kaimakoglou, as he unleashed a three to 53-59 (32’30’’), Romain Sato joining forces with his teammates to close the gap even further to 4 (55-59, 32’25’’). Drew Nicholas drilled a way beyond the arc shot to cruise the clover to a 3 point distance (58-61, 35’), the refs calling an unsportsmanlike foul on Sato, almost before the ball managed to swoosh the net, Sato himself actually being charged posing flat on the ground!
Olimpija got only a single free throw out of the whole deal (58-62, 35’20’’), Markota got the score board reading 58-64 (36’), Batiste going to the charity line to get a pair of good shots to 60-64 (36’50’’). Pinkney copied him at the other end of the court (60-66, 37’) and Ozbolt added even further to to 60-68 (37’25’’). Drew Nicholas unraveled yet another trifecta form his arsenal (63-68, 38’), Perperoglou decided to swap one with his fellow teammate (66-68, 38’20’’) but the refs called a foul on a three-point shot attempt on Nicholas, sending Ozbolt to the line to mark 66-71 (38’35’’). Dimitris Diamantidis cut the trail to 68-71, Gregory called him on his move to answer to 68-73 (39’10’’). Team cap stepped up, undertook certain offensive operations, score got to 72-75 (39’30’’), Panathinaikos forced pressure whenever opponents tried to get the ball in bounds, Olimpija got 72-77 off free-throws and 14’’ were pending on the clock. Diamantidis though, was in no mood to throw in the towel! 9’’ left he heaved in a sweet three to cut the trail down to 2 (75-77), Ilievski though kept on making them free-throws (75-79) after a foul committed rapidly by the captain, the latter gaining a foul in favor himself at the other end of the court, scoring perfectly to 77-79 (39’53’’). In an encounter which many had viewed as a “case closed”, done deal issue, Obradovic ‘s gang had a finale of its own in store. Antonis (aka Batman) Fotsis intercepted the ball as it was brought inbounds by the Slovenians, Batiste missed the game-giver three, still Diamantdis had more to say on the floor. He snatched the offensive board off the glass and made the tying bucket, score 79-79, 3’’’ remaining and an entire OAKA arena at its feet! As in Slovenia, so in Greece the game was sent to be ultimately defined in Over Time, since a dire last minute attempt to the basket off Kenny Gregory was not only unlucky but also made at dead time.
Let it be noted that all 13 points made in the last moments off the regular time had Dimitiris Diamantidis signature, name and logo posted all over them.
Ilievski and Nicholas swapped triples to get OT starter, score 82-82, Batiste presented the clover with the lead (84-82, 41’30’’), the aforementioned American guard off yet another Fotsis steal, scored to 87-82 (42’20’’) and then some to 90-82 (43’). Perperoglou switched the score to 92-84 (44’), Fotsis marking a mini unofficial fianle , sending the ball into validation from a three-point marker, Gregory being the last to score for the evening to final 95-88.
Referees: Ziemblicki (POL), Conde (ESP), Trawicki (POL)
Quarters: 23-17, 37-33, 50-54, 79-79(RG), 95-88(OT)
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 2, Perperoglou 9, Batiste 14 (10rbs), Fotsis 17 (9rbs), Sato 12, Nicholas 15, Tsartsaris 3, Diamantidis 16 (11as), Vougioukas, Calathes 4, Kaimakoglou 3
Union Olimpija (Zdovc): Ilievski 16, Gregory 19, Salin, Muric 4, Jagodnik 10, Shermadini 6, Pinkney 8, Markota 9, Lorbek 1, Ozbolt 15
