In quite a special match-up Panathinaikos denied Fenerbahce Ulker a ticket to the Top16, final score 69-55 at the indoor OAKA arena, in THY Euroleague game 9. In a game which was all about Mike Batiste’s return to familiar… territory; but also Sofoklis Schortsanitis’ return to action, player to have a defining role in the Greens prevalence.
The first minutes of the encounter were by far not ideal. The Turks started off behind a 0-8 (2’45’’), got to 4-12 (6’30’’) but from here to 18-14 (13’) and then 28-19 (18’) the clash seemed to be a whole different ball game. Schortsanitis, Bramos, Panko, Ukic all chipped in offensively, while in backcourt the effort was a team matter and ever effective.
Fenerbahce Ulker tried but was unable to actually threaten Panathinaikos all the way down the stretch. What it did manage was to gnaw its trail (31-28, 23’) the Greens however expanding the gap once more to 9 points a distance (43-34, 29’40’’). The ante reached double digits at 31’ (47-37) and during the last two minutes soar to +18 (69-51), only for curtains to fall, score board resting at 69-55.
Referees: Ziemblicki (POL), Garcia Gonzalez (ESP), Conde (ESP)
Quarters: 12-14, 29-23, 43-37, 69-55
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 9 (6rbs, 4as), Panko 15 (6rbs), Maciulis, Ukic 4, Lasme 8, Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 9 (6rbs, 9as), Banks 9 (3as), Xanthopoulos, Skordilis, Schortsanitis 11
Fenerbahce Ulker (Pianigiani): McCalebb 7, Onan 5, Ermis, Sato 20, Bremer, Andersen 8, Savas, Batiste 4, Karaman 2, Bogdanovic 6, Preldzic 3
*Charis Giannopoulos was not on the official line up.
*Panathinaikos’ next practice session has been scheduled for Monday afternoon (December 10).
