Panathinaikos had a rough time, but ultimately managed to down Mapooro Cantu 78-76, at a home game in OAKA arena for Euroleague game 2.
The Panathinaikos superlative on court was not enough to aid it in creating a cushion or a steady lead at that in the first half of the clash. 5-2 (2’10’’)style in which the Greens charge the field turned into 11-6 (3’27’’) and was mounted, the players seeming to also be in control of the clash pace, across from quite an aggressive Mapooro Cantu game. The Italians found solutions beyond the arc, managing actually to lead for the first time on court (11-12, 4’15’’).Panathinaikos using rebounds as its main weapon and praise to good shooting range got back in the driver’s seat to lead 23-17 at the end of the first quarter.
The guests continued the exceptionally rough, close to fouling defense but Panathinaikos hung on to the game reigns. It climbed back up to 25-17 (10’20’’)and then to 30-24 (12’) but from that point forward the away team was the one to set the tone on the floor. Using three point shots but also good connections in offense they ran a partial 7-19 from 10’20’’ up to 15’50’’ (32-36). All the way down to the recess, both teams were unable to get away from each other’s shadow, Panathinaikos getting to the smallest advantage possible (44-43).
First few minutes game recommencing for third quarter were more sufficient for the Greens. They got to run, appealed further in frontcourt, Schortsanitis providing solutions on yet another occasion, so much as Kostas Tsartsaris to mount to 55-48 (25’) and then to 61-55 (30’). Final period failed to begin in the best possible manner. Mapooro Cantu found the answers it was seeking managing actually to lead (61-63, 33’21’’). At this exact point is were initially Schortsanitis and then Dimitris Diamantidis alongside Andy Panko took over the assignment of leading the team, score flexing to 73-68. And this notwithstanding the fact that the referees had earlier awarded the captain a technical foul for protesting about a foul committed on him while attempting a triple. Panathinaikos got up by 8 again, Jonas Maciulis to drill a trifecta (76-68, 38’50’’). Diamantidis was there also to pump up the cushion to +9 (77-68, 39’05’’), the Italians tried in the clutch, picked up the slack, but victory remained in clover possession, sealed by final score 78-76; this season’s first Euroleague win.
Referees: Bulto (ESP), Herceg (CRO), Shemmesh (ISR)
Quarters: 23-17, 44-43, 61-55, 78-76
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 4, Panko 11, Maciulis 5, Armstrong 2, Ukic 11, Lasme, Tsartsaris 8, Diamantidis 12, Kitchen 6, Xanthopoulos, Giannopoulos, Schortsanitis 19
Mapooro Cantu (Trinchier): Kudlacek, Abass, Scekic 1, Smith 4, Markoishvili 17, Leunen 3, Mazzarino 6, Brooks 9, Tyus 10, Tabu 7, Aradori 17, Cusin 2
