Panathinaikos was defeated for the first time in the Top16 round in Spain, versus Caja Laboral by final score 77-70, in views of game 3. Teams will meet up again in two weeks at the OAKA arena.
Neither team seemed to be able to enforce its pace during the first half of the clash. Caja Laboral appeared to have a slight superlative during this period of time, mainly exploiting its edge in two categories on the floor: Rebounds and two point shots, being also the better team at creating. In the first few minutes the lead swapped hands, but in the ensuing game it was the Spaniards that took hold of the games reigns, no managing however to maintain any kind of a distance they might have created. They led by 5 at two points during the first quarter (15-10 at 7’50’’, 17-12 at 8’45’’), the greens cut the trail down to a single point 17-16 behind Kostas Tsartsaris, distance at which the first quarter came to a full stop (19-18).
Scenery did not flex much in the second quarter, with an out of the ordinary situation occurring at 13’18’’, as first referee of the encounter Carl Jungerbrand was injured, game continuing with the two remaining referees. Home-team managed to escape by 7 (27-20, 14’30’’), Panathinaikos counteracted to 27-26 (15’50’’), enforcing pressure full court, making the most out of a pair of steals and its overall good defense of the hour. But, yet again Dusco Ivanovic saw his players regain control over the game and touch an 8 point distance (34-26, 17’17’’). Half time found score board reading 36-33, the greens having evened things out in the rebounding department, but also making better efforts to two point shots.
Game recommencing, Panathinaikos went for a come-back, alongside a court domination. Mike Batiste provided his team with lead once more (41-42, 23’08’’) but the hosts with the additional aid of their fans, in a home-court which never ceases, got up and led by 10 for the first time behind a couple of threes drained by Pau Ribas (59-49, 29’50’’).
Beginning of fourth quarter provided the home-team with a +13 cushion off a three-point-play by Batiste (62-49). Antonis Fotsis gave a breather to the clover scoring beyond the arc to 62-52 (31’45’’), Dimitris Diamantidis heaved in a couple of free throws awarded to the greens after a technical charged to Esteban Batista (he pushed the ball out of the clover captains arms, while he was discussing with the referee), score getting to 62-54 (32’10’’). Batiste picked up the slack even further (62-56, 33’17’’) and Drew Nicholas off a fast break cut the shadow to 4 (62-58, 34’20’’). Caja Laboral returned to its +7 edge (70-63) slightly prior to last three game minutes, Panathinaikos cut the trail even further behind Kostas Tsartsaris (70-66, 38’). Only 1’30’’ pending on the game clock, Huertas behind the charity line made 72-66, a good three pointer never reached validity sent off by Dimitris Diamantidis, only for 72-68 score to be formed by Batiste at 39’. Caja Laboral spent an entire 24 second offense performing no attempt whatsoever, but the greens next made a mistake bringing the ball inbounds, 35’’ left in the game. A free throw turned the score to 73-68, but Sato drained a down-town two to 73-70 (39’40’’). San Emeterio made score 75-70 from the free throw line, Teletovic marking final score 77-70.
Referees: Jungerbrand (FIN), Boltauzer (SLO), Latisevic (LAT)
Quarters: 19-18, 36-33, 59-49, 77-70
Caja Laboral (Ivanovic): Ribas 9, Huertas 5, Logan 10, Teletovic 17, Batista 11, San Emeterio 21, Oleson, Barac 4, Bjelica
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 1, Perperoglou 2, Batiste 14, Fotsis 7 (7rbs), Sato 6, Nicholas 15, Tsartsaris 11, Diamantidis 12 (11as), Vouyoukas, Calathes 2
Press Conference
“Anything goes”
Panathinaikos did not managing to snatch the positive result it was after in Vitoria from Caja Laboral, Zeljko Obradovic speaking of the greens’ image but also the ensuing Top16 round. “It was a tough game. We knew Caja Laboral would be highly motivated something more than apparent during the clash. For yet another encounter we lost the game in the last two minutes, period of time in which we committed many turnovers. We did not play well though during the entire encounter, we did not play accordingly to the level we have as a team, so much in offense, as in defense”.
When asked if the tier essentially begins from the start after today’s results, the Panathinaikos Head Coach stated: “We had said that there is a long way to go in the group. Ever game is tough. Whoever had stated that after 2-0 we were the favorite and that qualification was a done deal was wrong. There is still a long way ahead to cover. We always say this thing. There are three more games hence anything goes”.
Stratos Perperoglou added: “The positive aspect, if one can be established, is that although we committed many turnovers, nevertheless we stayed alive in the game. We wanted to win. Mistakes though in the end were what judged the game ultimately. We should have been more cautious at the end of the third quarter, time at which we received consecutive three pointers. We hold on to the fact that we stayed in the game even though we committed so many turnovers and we will look towards improving and getting the victories we hope for from now on”.
*Panathinaikos returns from Spain tomorrow at 16:00h.
