A text book down to the wire clash, driven into OT, calling for a heroic effort from all, a huge gap having to be covered, that of captain Dimitris Diamantidis, who at 1’
10’’ suffered an injury. Many more had to take place by Zeljko Obradovic and his players so as to reach the same conclusion: Panathinaikos to be crowned Greek League Champion. Again… For the 9th consecutive time offering answers to every possible direction… Final game score 101-94 is probably the best answer possible and its was given on the floor…
Panathinaikos went for a better start, but had almost from tip-off Dimitris Diamantidis’s injury. The clover captain only at the second minute of the encounter headed towards the bench having sprained his right foot. 5-1 (2’) flexed to 7-10 (4’) from the visitors, the game becoming in action a neck and neck game, immensely intense, quite a great deal of anger and many changes in the score. Panathinaikos got up by 2 (17-15, 9’) but trailed even by 7 at 14’30’’ (23-30). The greens reacted, enforced pressure, ran, exploiting every opportunity given to them in order to run the open field, also nailing a few second chances in frontcourt picking up offensive boards. The result was a 6 point cushion at 23’ (45-39). Nothing had be defined yet. In a packed to the rim arena, fans at their feet from tip-off, the guests managed to nail a 4 point gap (49-53, 26’33’’), only for third quarter to rest at 60-61 praise to a pair of free throws off Nick Calathes, Stratos Perperoglou being sent into battle for the first time by Zeljko Obradovic. It was his first appearance in the final series after his injury in the semis versus PAOK.
The guests maintained the lead all the way down to an Antonis-aka-Batman-Fotsis triple (68-68, 33’50’’), home team to lead next behind a pair of Mike Batiste charity shots to 72-71 (34’50’’). Fotis drilled once more from beyond the arc to swoosh the net to get Panathinaikos back up by 1 (75-74, 36’), while “Michalis” got the score board reading 77-74. The empire (of Fotsis) stroke back, the Greek forward jogging the clover to 79-75 (37’45’’), a sweet late +4 cushion for the home team this time formed by a pair of shots from the line. Copied he was by Nick Calathes (81-77, 38’25’’). The visitors picked up the slack (81-80, 38’40’’), Batiste flexed the score to 83-80 (38’50’’), only for Bouroussis to cut the trail once more to a single point a distance (83-82, 39’). 42’’ pending on the clock Papaloukas went for zip at a couple of shots from the line. 20’’ left on the game clock Drew Nicholas to commit a foul, Lukas Mavrokefalidis this time to the line to go 1-for-2. Batiste picked up the board the score tied 83-83. Sato’s buzzer beater never made its marker, the game led into OT. Fotsis was on fire! Behind yet another nothing-but-net three-pointer score was turned into 86-83 (40’40’’), Ian Vougioukas chipped in to 88-84 (41’10’’). The game got to 88-88 (43’04’’). A pair of free throws behind Sato brought Panathinaikos bak in pole position (90-88, 43’20’’), Calathes to mark 92-88 (43’50’’). A turnover by Vassilis Spanoulis hence the ball was returned to the greens, Calathes having ditched his nikes for Diamantidis addidas for the matchup scoring to 94-88 (38’20’’). Yet another Olympiakos mistake led to 97-88 who else but perfect scorer Antonis Fotsis (6-for-6 threes!!!) to put the final nail in his opponents coffin, 59’’7 remaining to be played out on court. Spanoulis to the line to pick up the slack (97-89, 30’10’’). Mike Batiste to step up once more. He flexed the score to 99-89, 30’’ left. Kostas Kaimakoglou from the line to score the centurion bucket (101-91). Spanoulis scored to 101-94, 3’’5 only on the game clock. Nothing though could change facts on the floor… Panathinaikos was the Greek League Champion. In its home, in front of its own crowd!
Referees: Tanatzis, Piloidis, Karakatsounis
Quarters: 17-18, 41-39, 60-61, 83-83 (RG), 101-94
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Tepic, Maric 5, Perperoglou, Batiste 22 (11rbs), Fotsis 22 (6-for-6 3’s), Sato 9, Nicholas 9, Tsartsaris 1, Diamantidis, Vougioukas 6, Calathes 16 (11as), Kaimakoglou 11
Olympiakos (Ivkovic): Papaloukas 7, Gordon 2, Spanoulis 18, Printezis 11, Bouroussis 16, Keselj, Pelekanos 5, Mavrokefalidis 12, Halperin, Glyniadakis, Erceg, Teodosic
“The best ever”
Zeljko Obradovic arrived at the press conference and on his face still was carved all the intensity of the encounter which had just finished. The finale was familiar procedure so much to him as to his colleagues, his players and the administration. Yet another Greek League Championship. One more coronation.
“Tonight’s game was very particular and very good competitive wise. Either team could have won and its was fascinating to watch. Both teams committed mistakes. For us, the most important issue was Diamantidis injury at the beginning of the clash. However, Calathes competed as if he was Diamantidis. He competed for 42 minutes, when I told him at certain points to come out, he reassured me that everything was ok and that he wanted to continue to play. He was the team’s leader and not only due to the points he scored. Fotsis was unbelievable, he was yet another hero of the encounter, undertaking, executing and nailing very important baskets. He was amazing in general. As was the team’s youngster… Mike Batiste. Age doesn’t matter one iota. What matters is that one goes out to play and enjoys it and that shows! I am sad that Diamantidis in a miraculous season was unable to help us in this game. The title however belongs to every single player, not only to the ones I mentioned”.
Obradovic stressed that “Olympiacos is a great team and it proved throughout all the series that it has quality”, only to make reference to all that took place beyond court bounds: “I have stated 100 times that without our friends it is impossible to gain titles. I am proud when a great atmosphere is created like today, at least for the greatest part of the game. However, still there were fans who used lasers. Shame on them. They deprive us the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy another title. So, the sentiment has two options. On the one hand I am happy for my players and the fans, but on the other hand I am upset with certain people who ran the court and interrupted the encounter. The same thing happened at the “SEF” arena. Every year we have the same. I believe that I must speak of our fans and I cannot hide it, I am disappointed. The rest of the fans must understand it and stop them. Because apparently me and the rest of the team do not have the power to do it”.
Obradovic underlined next that to him it was the best season: “I have been in the team 10 years, but this season might have very probably been the best ever. In 2007 and 2009 the seasons ended behind triple crowns, bit this year I have the best most powerful feeling. Why? Because no one believed in is. No one believed that Panathinaikos could get titles except us. Certain “experts” actually stated that the greens needed at least two more players. I will state it again, that one day I hope also to become an “expert”. I would like for yet another year to that the brothers Yannakopoulous, Dimitris Itoudis but also the entire staff, because without them nothing could have been possible to happen. But also the fans bearing in mind mainly the atmosphere they created versus Barcelona. But that have to help out in all that I stated above”.
The Head Coach of Panathinaikos was asked what were the last words he said to Diamantidis at the end of the clash: “At the end of the game I told him that everybody played for him. Certain players who know that they are important such as Nicholas can’t be left out. But the other also aided the team, like Kaimakoglou. And let’s not forget that today we competed also without Perperoglou, who however tried to chip in all he could”.
And he was also asked about new additions to the team: “During the next few days you will have the time to manufacture 100 names. I do not have a clue yet. Certainly though it is not a good thing to dwell. We must work towards the future. We must correct our negative aspects,. Certain players must change. If they are ready ok. Otherwise we will see what we will do”.
