Panathinaikos managed to prevail over opponent Caja Laboral in a down to the wire encounter, ultimately determined in the clutch, by final score 76-74, at the OAKA indoor arena for Euroleague Top16 day 4, yet another exciting clash for the greens.
Panathinaikos started out as the better opponent on court and remain so for the entire first half of the encounter. It paced itself, was provided solution through defence, performed aggressively and got to easy buckets. Something more than apparent on the score board as it smoothly got up by 9 (12-3 at 3’45’’, 21-12 at 8’55’’), Caja Laboral making score only off three pointers. At 13’10’’ the greens led once more by 9 (30-21), the Spaniards finally getting to their first two of the eve, slightly later, only at 13’40’’ (30-23). Long haul shots were the element that kept the guests alive in the game. Let it be noted that at the middle of the second quarter they had 1-for-2 twos’ and… 9-for-15 threes’! In the next five minutes though the visitors decided to get closer to the basket, managed to tie (36-36, 17’05’’) and even lead behind a three of Mirza Teletovic (36-39, 18’20’’). Milenko Tepic reintroduced Panathinaikos with the lead, flexing the score to 40-39, fashion in which the first half came to a full stop. Twenty minutes of game time, during which Caja Laboral finally tallied 10-for-18 triples and only 4-for-6 twos’, the clover enjoying first say in every other statistical category.
The Spaniards picked up in second half exactly were they had left off in the first. A three behind David Logan switched the score to 40-42 (21’10’’), Esteban Batista with a put-back basket marked 45-46 (24’10’’), but from that point forward and up to the end of the third quarter the game was all Panathinaikos’ play. Even feistier defence, Antonis-aka Batman-Fotsis competing in one of his best Euroleague performances up to date chipping in, to aid to every aspect of the game, offensive boards and second attempt to the basket, made it possible for Zeljko Obradovic to see his boys brake away by 11 (59-48, 28’30’’), the fans helping out the best way they could through both voice and presence. Return to the court for fourth quarter hosted Caja Laboral performing in its most familiar method: Behind beyond the arc shots, culprit of the hour Marselinho Huertas, scoring to 59-58 (32’20’’). Panathinaikos managed to escape by 5 yet again (63-58, 33’40’’), but was unable to contain its opponent. The guest behind Huertas in the driver’s seat cut the trail once more down to 2 (66-64, 35’20’’), before Startos Perperoglou cruised the clover back to +5 (69-64, 36’30’’). San Emeterio tallied 19 points, flexing the score to 69-66, 2’45’’ pending on the game clock. Fotsis stroke back to 72-66 (38’30’’) Teletovic though copied him in frontcourt to 72-69 (38’52’’). 38’’ remaining Diamantidis got fouled out, Esteban Batista drawing 52-52, making the most of a three-point-play. Mike Batiste got a pair of good charity throws to get the score to 74-72, 28’’3 left to the buzzer. At 19’’8 before the end, Milenko Tepic fouled Huertas who yet again tied with the clover 74-74. Batista got charged for fouling Mike Batiste, 4’’2 to the end, Batiste making both free throws to 76-74. Only 0’’2 away from the buzzer, Sato was charged with a foul on San Emeterio. The latter missed the first of his two free throws, missed the second one on purpose, Panathinaikos game and final score 76-74.
Referees: Cerebuch (ITA), Viator (FR), Vojinovic (SRB)
Quarters: 21-18, 40-39, 59-50, 76-74
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 2, Perperoglou 10, Batiste 12, Fotis 22 (11rbs), Sato 6(7df), Nicholas 12, Tsartsaris 2, Diamantidis 7 (5as, 6df), Vougioukas 3, Calathes
Caja Laboral (Ivanovic): Ribas, Huertas 17, Logan 20, Teletovic 9, Batista 7, San Emeterio 19, Oleson, Sow 2, Barac, Bjelica
*Panathinaikos performed without sideline Kostas Kaimakoglou and Aleks Maric.
Press Conference
Zeljko Obradovic had nothing but positive remarks for his team’s performance across from Caja Laboral and the victory they ultimately got to, not forgetting to mention that anything goes in the group.
“The first thing I would like to state it that I am very pleased in the way we competed today. We played exquisite defence in the first half and it was a tough deal to see them score at the end of their offence, the way they did. Because of them shots, they stayed alive in the game. We kept up the same rhythm in the second half, got up even by 11 and the only problem we faced was not being able to get to certain easy shots. I am very content in the way we unravelled our offences, because all of our shots were committed under good circumstances. The only thing was that in certain cases we were not careful in defence, for instance when Teletovic made the triple at the end, whilst we did receive certain fast breaks. Congratulations to my players for an important victory and we thank our fans for their support. It was a superb atmosphere. Anything goes in the group, we will having to way until the end to see. Until then we keep up our effort”, Obradovic stated, refusing however to make any remark upon the refereeing of the encounter, when asked. Caja Laboral’s Head Coach, Dusko Ivanovic, marked: “We were prepared for this game and were in good shape. The way that everything has played out we can either end up first or third. Panathinaikos stepped out on court really aggressively, we committed many mistakes and that was what judged the game. In the first quarter we had many triples and it was our choice. Panathinaikos did not have many solutions for our strategy; after we tried to pose a threat, closer to the basket. In the end, an offence, a mistake determined the game. I believe we performed a wholesome game. It was a shame to lose”.
ANTONIS FOTSIS MVP
Antonis Fotsis with his impressive performance committed in the clash across from Caja Laboral was named MVP of the Euroleague day. He tallied 40 tendex ranking, having competed for 34’51’’, scoring 22 points behind 5-for-5 twos’, 3-for-5 threes’ and 3-fpr-3 free throws plus 11 rebounds (7-4), 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot and 0 turnovers. His statistics are the reflection (to its greatest part) of his offering towards the win, being stable throughout the entire encounter aiding immensely at both ends of the court.
Zeljko Obradovic and Dimitris Itoudis when referring to Fotsis’s performance stressed: “He committed a fantastic game and bore whiteness to why he is viewed as on of the greatest Power Forwards all over Europe . It was justified for him to be named MVP to the day. For us he tugged the team along in scoring many times, gathered offensive boards and played out really defining defences. He was effective defensively even when forced to guard shorter players. He is the Fotsis we all know and Panathinaikos needs”.
