Panathinaikos downed Kavala at an away game as if at a stroll in the park, encounter ultimately sealed by final 64-89, in which Zeljko Obradovic got the chance to try out different formations but also to offer well entitled rest to certain players.
4-0 opening for Kavala, or rather for Simmons who managed to pose a threat close to the basket, did little worry Panathinaikos, performing behind Tepic, Nicholas, Sato, Tsartsaris and Vougioukas for its initial five. After an initial five minute period in which the home-team seemed in the mood to keep up a fight, the greens begun gradually to take control over the game. 13-10 (5’) switched to 13-19 (7’30’’). Fotsis, Diamantidis and Batiste set foot on court to boost the team even further, gap being renamed to a greater price, actually getting into double digits for the first time in the clash at 9’ (14-25).
Second quarter was Panathinaikos exclusively. Partial 11-28 states a whole deal on its own towards the pure dominance of the visitors. A 0-12 run aided them to 20-49 (16’50’’), whilst slightly before intermission Stratos Perperoglou sent the gap into a +30 fashion (25-55). The clover superlative was also apparent through numbers, as it enjoyed 16-to-7 rebounds, 6-to-2 assist, 2-to-6 turnovers, but also better scoring stats behind 9-for-9 free throws, 14-for-14 twos’ and only one rejected triple (6-for-7).
Kavala was unable to threaten Panathinaikos, a granted fact. Zeljko Obradovic threw Yorgos Bogris into action at 27’ and during the fourth quarter used Fotis Zoubos also, Milenko Tepic leading the way to +33 (45-78, 31’), Nick Calathes to +35 (45-80, 33’). The hosts tried to change things on court making four beyond the arc shots drained by Karapostolou, Stefanidi, Palacio to pick the slack to 57-80 (36’). Bogris cut into Kavala’s run to 57-82 (36’10’’), Obradovic pairing him up with Vougioukas in the 5 formation, to be passed the torch by Bogris to 59-85 (38’), curtains finally falling for the game at 64-89.
Referees: Karakatsounis, Manos, Poursanidis
Quarters: 16-27, 27-55, 45-76, 64-89
Kavala (Priftis): McIntosh 3, Palacio 15, Kostov 4, Huff 2, Papanikolaou 2, Stefanidis 4, Pjevalica, Simmons 14, Georgakis 5, Karapostolou 9, Angelopoulos 6
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic 8, Perperoglou 10, Batiste 9, Fotsis 7, Sato 14 (9rbs), Nicholas 12, Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 8 (6as), Vougioukas 9, Calathes 4, Bogris 2, Zoubos 2
Sidelined for the clash were Kostas Kaimakoglou and Aleks Maric.
Press Conference
Zeljko Obradovic referred to the little time Panathinaikos had to train but also to rest for the encounter with Kavala, but also to the importance of performing on court behind all 12 players at disposal.
“Kavala is a very serious team and we prepared thinking that we have a serious opponent to face. We got to practice essentially only once and for us it was a bit of a challenge. Congratulations to my players because they were very mature since minute 1. It is very important that all players helped out, because we were less than 30 hours away for the game versus Caja Laboral. We had to compete and get positive results from two respectively hard encounters. Congratulations to my players, but also to Kavala which is a very good team. I would also like to thank Panathinaikos’s fans who stood by us even here and Kavala’s fans in general for the great atmosphere in during the game”.
When asked of Panathinaikos should improve some aspect of its game over the next two defining month, Obradovic answered: “What I would like is for all my players to be healthy; For Marci and Kaimakoglou to return. If they two come back we can performed a practice of greater quality and more solutions in the games, an issue very important for us”.
Yorgos Bogris was he who spoke at the press conference, on the day of his 22nd birthday: “It was a very important victory after a really tough game across for Caja Laboral, encounters less than 30 hours apart. We must congratulate Kavala on the great job it is doing up here, something we had also spotted at OAKA, game in which it was very antagonizing”.
Kavala’s Head Coach, Dimitris Priftis, stated: “Today’s game had a granted difficulty level. We knew it. Panathinaikos has a quality, was coming from a very hard game but was great from minute one, mature and performing behind great range. We did not have energy. In the second half we improved our playing, circulated the ball. There are always things to gain competing across from Panathinaikos. We are facing quite a few problems. We had the news of Huff who is to be continuing his career elsewhere. We shall search the market to see what’s available in views for a new player. It is something we need because we come up short in our day to day basis. It might happen before Iraklis, or even after. I believe that 10 wins is the border line level in order to be able to remain in the top league and I believe we can make it in the end”
Milt Palacio was the player to speak for Kavala: “It was simply a game with the Greek Champion. Panathinaikos is the best team in the land and one of the top clubs all over Europe. We stepped out on court opting to enjoy the game. It was a test for us… Such games always are. In the first half we were not good; in the second on the contrary I believe we managed to improve certain aspect of our game”.
