It took Panathinaikos but a few minutes to become the absolute dominator on the floor in the clash versus Olimpija Ljubljana all the way down to final score 67-85, style in which curtains dropped in THY Euroleague Game Day 3 in Slovenia.
The clover trailed in the game only twice throughout its entire duration and these two times in the first minute at that (0-2, 3-2). From that point forward it took over on court and never looked back grasping the lead firmly. What it did do was gradually open the gap and step up all the more dominantly on the floor. It reached 19-23 at the end of the first quarter; Olimpija Ljubljana sneaked up to a single point distance (24-25, 12’10’’) but Panathinaikos was in the driver’s seat. The Greens got to 29-40 (17’) cashing in a 5-15 partial run, half time reaching, score at 38-50.
Third quarter was another tough one for Argyris Pedoulakis’ players. The pace not once dropped for Panathinaikos, the ante upping to a +19 fashion (50-69) not to rest at that, since at 32’ the cushion was pumped to +21 (53-74). Final score 67-85 came simply to seal a very good performance and a victory of dire importance for what’s in store next for the team.
Most positive element for Panathinaikos, the offering of all players towards tonight’s victory, since it is hard to spot a player in bad form. Maciulis showed the way in the start and held fast, Ukic created breaches, Kitchen chipped in both in organizing and attacking, Giannopoulos in 12 minutes game time drilled 12 points behind 3-for-4 triples and 4 rebounds, Lasme was impressive competing behind 5 blocked shots and 13 points scored though 5-for-5 twos and 3-for-3 free throws in 21’37’’ minutes of action. And the list goes on…
Referees: Cerebuch (ITA), Garcia(ESP), Shulga(UKR)
Quarters: 19-23, 38-50, 50-69, 67-85
Union Olimpija (Filipovski): Waters 10, Rupnik 2, Prepelic 11, Blazic 6, Rannikko, Muric 5, Baynes 16, Bubnic 6, Page 9, Mocnik, Omic 2
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 2, Panko 9, Maciulis 18, Armstrong 2, Ukic 14, Lasme 13 (8rbs, 5bs), Tsartsaris 2, Diamantidis 5 (6as), Kitchen 4, Xanthopoulos, Giannopoulos 12, Schortsanitis 4
*Panathinaikos will be arriving at “Eleftherios Venizelos” tomorrow at 12.10 in order to begin preparing for the encounter versus Rethymno (October 29, 19.00).
