Panathinaikos downed Kolossos at a home game behind final score 92-56, in views of day 17 in the HEBA League.
It only took Panathinaikos a recognising first quarter in order to pace itself and gradually create a safety cushion in its favour, a cushion that it gradually also managed to enlarge.
Kolossos led during the first minutes breaking away from tip-off (0-2 at 0’35’’, 3-4 at 3’), trailed by 7 (13-6 at 6’25’’, 18-11 at 8’20’’, 20-13 at 8’40’’), managed however to input a response and creep back up to a two-pointer away from its host slightly after second quarter beginning (22-20, 10’45’’). At this point the greens seem to awaken, enforced more pressure in backcourt, leading their opponents to commit 10 turnovers, also getting to quite a few easy buckets at the other end of the court. All this containing Pat Calathes, Kolossos’s go-to-guy of all the last few games, top scorer of the encounters, at zero point gathering. All this made it possible for the distance to be set for the first time in the clash at double digits a number (30-20, 12’55’’) and then on to +20 (48-28, 19’10’’), first half ultimately resting at 50-28 behind Stratos Perperoglou. Defining factor for Panathinaikos was three-point range, 9-for-15 in the first two quarters, Drew Nicholas committing during this time in 4-for-6 triples.
The greens soared to +26 (54-28 at 21’25’’, 56-30 at 22’10’’), Kolossos tried to stay alive in the game, Pat Calathes pulling a pair of threes to 60-40 (25’24’’). Tsartsaris provided +25 an edge (65-40, 29’50’’), only for third quarter to rest at 65-42. Perperoglou made a basket +1 to up the ante to +27 (71-44, 32’40’’), Antonis Fotsis chipped in to +30 (74-44, 33’30’’). Panathinaikos though, did not rest at this; it mounted +36 at 35’20’’ (88-44). Yorgos Bogris undertook the assignment of leading the clover to +39 (86-47, 37’50’’), Fotis Zoubos succeeding him to +41 (88-47, 38’20’’), only for the score board to stop at final 92-56.
Referees: Bitis, Panagiotou, Bikas
Quarters: 22-18, 50-28, 65-42, 92-56
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 8, Perperoglou 12, Batiste 8, Fotsis 9, Sato 7, Nicholas 14, Tsartsaris 11, Diamantidis 10, Vougioukas 7, Bogris 4, Zoubos 2
Kolossos R. (Sferopoulos): Calathes P. 6, Kafkis 2, Jordan 4, Panos 10, Manolopoulos 3, Assimakopoulos, Charissis 4, Tsamis 4, Pappas 3, Golemac 11, Georgallis 6, Ivanovic 3
*Kostas Kaimakoglou and Aleks Maric were not included in the official line up.
Different attendance praise to the kids
The OAKA indoor arena had a differentiated fans’ stand for the encounter, since 150 kids from the Triple Crown Basketball Academy were hosted in the area, 34 from the Palestinian Youth Athletic Group and 50 from the 1st elementary school from the area Epanomi in Thessaloniki .
Press Conference
“Good defense for the whole 40 minutes”
“I am very pleased in the way we competed”, were Zeljko Obradovic’s first words in the press conference held after the end of the clash of Panathinaikos versus Kolossos Rhodes.
“Initially in defence, because we were prepared to commit a good game”, the clover’s Head Coach added, only to continue: “In this department I am content with my players’ efforts for the whole 40 minutes. Even in the first quarter, when we received 18 points, twice Kolossos got to the basket behind three pointers drained at the offence buzzer. Everything starts in defence, whilst in offence, today every shot was made under the correct circumstances. I am satisfied for yet another reason, because we played across from a team like Kolossos, which knows how to compete in every game. Tough games are up ahead and we must have all our players prepared and in great shape. I would like to thank the fans that came along today, to help our efforts”.
Next he was asked about not using Nick Calathes, only for him to stress that: “He is fine. It was my decision. The only person who decides who will play is me alongside my colleagues”.
Obradovic had Yorgos Bogris next to him in the press conference, who stated: “After a numb tip-off, I believe we played good basketball and committed the plays our coach had hoped to see on the floor. It is an important thing that we performed as aspired, across from one of the most competitive teams in the entire Greek League”. When questioned about his game time on court and how much he helps out in the practices, the 22year old centre answered: “Even if a were to play a single minute it is important. Every minute I compete is a motive for me. It is of great importance to make the most of every chance and tried to gain more and more game-time, doing whatever I am requested to by my coaches”.
Kolossos’s head coach, Yannis Sferopoulos stated: “I do not have much to say about the game. Panathinaikos was mature, played stifling defence and got to a fair win. We played an open game across from Panathinaikos, enforced pressure full court and from such games you can only gain things, which is exactly what we were after. We made mistakes, mostly at the end of the second quarter. After that we held the score low, only for it to be expanded again in the fourth quarter, in which we suffered dearly from the offensive boards Panathinaikos picked up. However, I have no complaints towards my players”.
Pat Calathes stated: “We performed certain things well across from a team which could very easily have the best defensive line across Europe . We tried a few things which we had prepared in practice but not all were achieved. Panathinaikos had great shooting range and we were injured from the numerous rebounds it got to. Congratulations to Panathinaikos, but for us the important game is next week’s. We must focus on that”.
*Sunday the greens have the day off and return to the court on Monday afternoon in order to start preparation for the clash across from Caja Laboral, on Thursday (17/2), in views of day 4 in the Euroleague Top16 round at the OAKA indoor arena.
