Panathinaikos gave one heck of a performance and almost managed to snatch a win, giving rival Barcelona quite a run for their money, only coming up short a single point, ultimately being defeated 83-82 at the Palau Blaugrana in the first game of the Euroleague play-off series.
It had been stated prior to the game, it was turned into practice on the court. Defense was the key and was the element that provided Panathinaikos with a pleasing pace. At no point did it allow Barcelona to the prerogative of running the open field, break away or getting to clean shots all features of the game that would presented the home team with a significant edge. Neither opponent managed to escape the other’s shadow, the moment the clover stated loud and clear the fact of having no intention to justify scenarios of the “clear favorite” stated during the last few days. Bad range of the minutes after tip-off especially in two point shots (3-for-13 at 5’30’’), the only one triple (1-for-1 behind Nicholas) did not stop Zeljko Obradovic’s boys from staying alive in the game and even lead from time to time (3-4 at 2’, 5-6 at 3’40’’, 14-18 at 11’), or even balancing things out on the floor (14-14 at 10’, 18-18 at 12’, 30-30 at 17’25’’). The occasions on which Barcelona managed to get up such as at 5’ (11-6), at 14’30’’ (26-21) or 19’ (37-30) Panathinaikos managed to come back quick, the bench reacted effectively behind any method offering breathers and solutions to the players. Amongst the plus aspects for the greens during the entire first half of the game rebounding department in which they had first say since the start of the clash, mounting 15 accumulated, 8 of which offensive boards, across from the respective 12 of their hosts, the latter competing in views of a packed to the rim home court. Nicholas paired up with Diamantidis in bucket offering as the couple headed towards the locker rooms behind 11 point a piece, Fotsis tallied 7 rebounds, whilst amongst the mark-worthy facts poorly assist harvest, as the clover had only one!
Panathinaikos re-entered the game for the second part even feistier than before… And was the opponent to dominate during the third quarter. Diamantidis kept at it to very high level of performance, Calathes was substantial offering a great deal acting exquisitely whilst guarding Juan Carlos Navarro, but also through drilling a very important three, not to forget Maric being introduced to the game at 27’50’’. It was his first appearance in Euroleague game since the18th of November 2010 in the clash with Armani Jeans Milano and his aid was profound. It was behind his 4 free throws that the greens got up by 5 (54-59, 28’30’’) and then some slightly later again from the line to 55-60 (29’20’’) leading on to third quarter closing, score fixed to 57-60 behind Kosta Perovic. Main “headache” for Obradovic three personal fouls for Tsartsaris and Fotsis, the prior since 17’40’’, the latter at 21’50’’. Batiste became the fourth player competing behind three personals (32’46’’), Stratos Perperoglou having become the third slightly earlier. Barcelona, cheered on by a mind numbing crowd, enforcing pressure towards every possible direction, found the way to fight back from 57-62 (30’18’’) and 59-64 (32’10’’). Going for a 6-0 run it regained control over the matchup and led by 65-64 at 33’, the first time since 24’. The refs called an unsportsmanlike foul on Fotsis in the next play, Navarro forming 67-64 from the line and draining a triple in the succeeding offense to 70-64 (33’50’’). Drew Nicholas swapped triples with the aforementioned Catal guard at the other end of the court (70-67, 34’05’’) while Batiste offered a solution of his own to Ndong’s advance (72-69, 34’45’’), leading on to Grimau marking score 74-69 (35’). 1’10’’ pending on the game clock Perperoglou picked up the slack to 76-75, off an attempt that begin with a dive to the floor by Tsartsaris, in order to keep the ball alive inbounds. At 56’’ Vasquez took a trip to the line to flex the score to 78-75. Perperoglou stoke again to cut the trail down to one again (78-77, 37’8’’ prior to the buzzer). The referees saw a foul in Fotsis (fifth) on Vasquez, 24’’ pending to be played out on court, the Spaniard leading to 80-77. The ball played a wicked game on Nicholas in the next play, 80-77 stood and with 9’6’’ remaining, Morris from the charity line marked 82-77. Immediately Diamantidis input a response behind a sweet three to jog the score to 82-80, 7’’1 before the end. Navarro got 1-for-2 free throws, Batiste shuved the ball away from the rim acting by the book and 1’’7 to go, Diamantidis heading to the line having been awarded an unsportsmanlike foul. Both free throws in, score 83-82 but alas the final attempt for the game was not good, Barcelona literary escaping with a win within only one point across from Panathinaikos, the away team promising even harder times in the ensuing series.
Referees: Sutulovic (MNE), Boltauzer (SLO), Latisevs (LAT)
Quarters: 14-14, 37-35, 57-60, 83-82
Barcelona (Pascual): Sada 2, Rubio 4, Lakovic 12, Navarro 13, Perovic 6, Vasquez 4, Ndong 8, Morris 5, Lorbek 12, Anderson 10, Grimau 7
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic, Maric 5, Perperoglou 6, Batiste 15, Fotsis 2, Sato, Nicholas 16, Tsartsaris 2, Diamantidis 26, Vougioukas 4, Calathes 5, Kaimakoglou 1
*The second game of the series will be held on Thursday 24th of March at the Palau Blaugrana at 22:15 (GT) at will be broadcasted by NovaSports
*Dimitris Diamantidis broke the 500 assist barrier in the Euroleague during the fourth quarter of the encounter. He became the 7th player in the history of the league to reach this number. In tonight’s game he also broke a personal standing record in the Euroleague behind his 26 points of the eve (4-for-10 twos’, 4-for-7 threes’, 6-for-6 free throws). His previous record was 21 points in the game Panathinaikos Vs Khimki on the 29th of November 2009
