2-for-2 wins for Panathinaikos in the Euroleague Top16 round, as it downed Unicaja Malaga 82-56 in the OAKA indoor arena.
The lead swapped camps during the first five minutes breaking away from tip-off, both teams trying to get some rhythm. Panathinaikos seemed to step away for the first time 4 minutes before first quarter ending, when 12-11 (5’50’’), became 16-11 (6’45’’) as the first 10 minutes played out score at 26-13, the clover competing in double features an edge. Zeljko Obradovic committed substitution after substitution, changed scheme after scheme, saw his team react, no matter what kind of defense Unicaja Malaga enforced and get up by more than 20 points for the first time at 17’45’’ (41-20). The break reached score board reading 45-25 and Panathinaikos returned back on court in the exact same mood it was in when it left for the locker rooms. Feisty in defense, going after every ball up for grabs, as if the score was a single point apart, trying to establish good collaborations in offense, either feeding the ball into the paint, either behind the guards (especially Diamantidis) drawing all the opponents on them, then finding their teammates wide open. The greens correct reactions but also the fans’ support aided so as for the gap to expand even further, reaching all the way up to +29 at third quarter inning (68-39), Drew Nicholas offering a +30 cushion (82-52, 37’20’’), game ultimately ending at 82-56.
Referees: Facchini (ITA), Dozai (CRO), Vyklicky (CZE)
Quarters: 26-13, 45-25, 68-39, 82-56
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 4, Perperoglou 10, Batiste 12, Fotsis 8, Sato 9, Nicholas 9, Tsartsaris 14, Diamantidis 4, Vougioukas 6, Calathes 6, Bogris, Zoubos
Unicaja Malaga (Mateo): Rodriguez 5, Freire, Printezis 7, Almazan 5, Jimenez 7, Blakney 10, Sinanovic 5, Rubio 4, Freeland 11, Garcia, Blanko 2
*Sidelined was Kostas Kaimakoglou (pain in his back thigh). Aleks Maric was also attending the encounter having currently got rid of the sling from his hand.
December leading guy
Dimitris Diamantidis prior to tip-off and from the hands of Panathinaikos BC’s president received the trophy for Euroleague’s December MVP. The clover captain for the games versus CSKA Moscow, Union Olimpija, Efes Pilsen and Armani Jeans Milano had average 15 points, 7 assists and 20 ranking.
Tsartsaris in the top 10
Kostas Tsartsaris needed 8 rebounds to reach place 10 in the Eurolague’s all –time list and this was the number of board he tallied in the encounter, catching up with Michalis Kakiouzis (744).
