Despite a lackadaisical start, Panathinaikos found its pace, got help from several of its players in the second half, and prevailed by 93-71 over Kavala in the OAKA indoors arena, in the context of the OPAP Basket League 19th competition date.
Panathinaikos was the first to take the lead at the beginning of the game (4-0, 1’), but Kavala was the one that dominated for the better part of the first half. A score of 6-5 (2’40’’), turned into 6-18 (6’20’’). The visiting team was driving to the basket without any particular difficulty from the “Greens” that seemed to be running on empty on both ends of the court. Zeljiko Obradovic proceeded to changes, sought solutions, and saw his players crunching the score difference (21-22, 8’58’’) and getting back in the lead (25-24, 10’40’’). Kavala kept bouncing back and, despite the fact that Panathinaikos got to an even 5-point lead (35-30, 14’24’’), turned the game around and managed to get in the lead once again (41-42, 18’12’’), before the sound of the buzzer marked the end of halftime by 46-42, with Vougioukas and Jasikevicius counting with 11 points apiece.
The “Greens” returned sturdy on court in the second half, reaching for the first time a double-digit lead (59-49, 25’12’’). Nonetheless, the visiting team showed their fighting colors once again and even got to tie the game (59-59, 27’28’’). The reaction was instant. Sarunas Jasikevicius marked five points, gave Aleks Maric a ‘just-sink-it-in’ basket, and the scoreboard read 66-59 (28’47’’) with the third quarter finally ending by 68-61.
Panathinaikos had more solutions in the fourth quarter. It gradually began to distance itself from its opponents, building a lead that reached as much as 20 points +20 (90-70, 39’30’’) and also playing good basketball during this time. The final score read 93-71 when the curtain fell on the game. The two teams will face it off again at the OAKA the day after tomorrow (Friday 17/2, 19:00) for the Greek Cup semifinals.
Referees: Psarianos, Anastasopoulos Ant., Tzafleris
By quarter: 21-24, 46-42, 68-61, 93-71
Panathinaikos (Obradovic): Maric 8, Perperoglou 13 (4 steals, 3 assists), Logan 6, Sato 3, Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 10 (7 assists), Vougioukas 15, Calathes N. 3, Kaimakoglou 15, Jasikevicius 16 (5 assists)
Kavala (Priftis): Pasalic 2, Arapis 1, Angelopoulos 12, Taylor 16, Stefanidis, Georgakis 2, Kostov 11, Karapostolou 6, Simtsak 10, O’Bryant 11
