The winner in the Panathinaikos – CSKA Moscow game was judged in overtime with the final score going to 76-78, in an OAKA arena that was almost filled to capacity in the context of the Euroleague 4th competition date.
In theory it was a very tough game and this was confirmed in practice already from the very first minutes: Panathinaikos and CSKA Moscow. The “Greens” got a slight lead at the beginning, with the situation soon being reversed. The Russians got second chances, found successful three-point shots, and reached a +5-point lead (9-14 at 6’20’’, 11-16 at 6’53’’). Two free throws by Sarunas Jasikevicius sealed a slight Panathinaikos’ comeback to make the score 17-16 (8’15’’); a three-pointer by Gordon brought CSKA Moscow in the driver’s seat once again (17-19, 8’25’’), but at this point something seemed to change in Zeljko Obradovic’s players’ competitive behavior. They became more competitive, tried more in getting the rebounds, whereas in every ball passed their opponents kept seeing hands raised in front of them.
The guests led (24-26, 12’30’’), but a 12-0 run changed the situation, leading the score to 36-26 (17’24’’), before closing half-time at 41-32. The “Greens” had already, in any case, undergone a slight shock, seeing Kostas Tsartsaris drop to the floor at 6’53’’, only to leave the court supported by staff ‘till he could reach the bench and sit down, showing pain on his left knee.
It took some time, but in the third period CSKA managed to ultimately find the solutions it wanted and rebounds played a significant role in that. During the first 9 minutes of the third period it had twice as many rebounds (5-10), made the most of Panathinaikos’ turnovers to run, press on both sides of the court at times, and as a result the 9-point margin almost disappeared, going from 45-36 (12’10’’), to 53-52 (18’10’’) and then to 55-54 (19’), before Jasikevicius made the score 57-54 (30’) with one of his typical mid-range shots after an assist by Diamantidis.
Panathinaikos went on court in the fourth period with a much firmer step, assisted by the amazing fans, who had almost filled the OAKA to capacity and would not stop pushing the team forward, not even for a moment. As a result, despite the fact that Dimitris Diamantidis was assessed with a fourth foul at 31’30’’, Panathinaikos kept the game in its hands again and reached to a +9-point lead (67-58, 33’34’’). The Russians did not let the game go. They tried again close to the basket, insisted on the rebounds and cut the margin down to three points (71-69, 38’30’’). Diamantidis committed his fifth foul with 55’’ to go; the foul was on Nenad Krstic, who tied the score at 71-71 from the foul-line. A communication breakdown in Panathinaikos’ next offence gave the ball back to CSKA Moscow, which tried to exhaust the time too, but did not manage to make the most of it. With 6’’, the outcome of the game lied in the hands of the “Greens”, with Zeljko Obradovic having called a time-out. Neither Batiste’s shot nor Vougioukas’ attempt succeeded and the game was led to overtime.
Krstic made the score 71-73, before being benched out with a fifth foul that Ian Vougioukas extracted from him through smart play (72-73, 41’). The Russians got to +3 (72-75) with Khryapa, but Kaimakoglou tied the score (75-75, 43’) and also got the defensive rebound in the next play. Kirilenko’s presence was the catalyst in two consecutive plays for CSKA that had the ball possession with 1’13’’ remaining. Siskauskas with 55’’ to go succeeded in a 3-pointer (75-78), and again Panathinaikos did not make the most of its own possession. With now only 8’’8 left to complete the 5-minute overtime, the “Greens” had the ball in their hands again. Siskauskas committed a foul on Nick Calathes 5’5’’ before the final buzzer. The “clover’s” guard made the score 76-78, but the Russians had the final say, clinching victory by 76-78.
Referees: Lamonica, Boltauzer, Chiari
By quarter: 22-19, 41-32, 57-54, 71-71 (ot), 76-78
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Maric 4, Batiste 9, Logan 5, Sato 7, Tsartsaris 2, Diamantidis 6, Vougioukas 4, Calathes Ν. 11, Smith 9, Kaimakoglou 13, Jasikevicius 6
CSKA Moscow (Kazlauskas): Teodosic 3, Siskauskas 14, Krstic 13, Kirilenko 9, Vorontsevich 4, Shved 10, Kaun 6, Khryapa 11, Ponkrashov, Gordon 8
