Panathinaikos the better opponent on court for the greatest part of the clash downed Panionios 75-61 at the OAKA indoor arena, in the postponed Basket League OPAP Game Day 9.
A very pleasing two minute period after tip-off was succeeded by the worst part of the game for Panathinaikos. 8-0 (2’) swiftly became 8-11 (4’45’’) for Panionios, the guest however unable to keep up its retaliation for long. Dimitris Diamantidis stepped up to put a first obstacle in his opponents’ way. Behind consecutive points off the captain the Greens got the score board reading 15-11 (7’06’’) and from that point forward the team never looked back. The gap reached double digits (21-11), one minute prior to first quarter buzzer, period to finally close at 24-13, Tsartsaris drilling a bucket in the last second.
Jason Kapono copied him at the end of the first half. Panathinaikos had managed to build an advantage that actually peaked at 14 points (30-16 at 13’13’’, 37-23 at 18’, 39-25 at 18’46’’) before Kapono, who had came from the bench at 17’25’’, the fans to warmly applaud him upon his entrance, would make the score 42-25.
The Greens upped their performance ante even more and alongside the gap price. It soar to 19 points (44-25, 20’20’’), the hosts cashing in on rebound teamwork (27-7 half time standings), good connections trying also to avoid turnovers. The edge remained at such levels, but Panionios snatched the opportunity to fight back during the last minutes of the third quarter and the first few in the fourth. 58-41 (28’40’’) flexed to 58-52 behind a Bogris-Jankovic connection at 32’12’’. Marcus Banks undertook matters in offense next to chip in 5 consecutive points to 63-52 (33’24’’). The guests continued their efforts. The clover however kept its rival within 8-to-11 points, the gap closed only to 7 (68-61, 38’38’’) only for the encounter to end at final 75-61.
Referees: Karakatsounis, Mitsopoulos, Anastopoulos
Quarters: 24-13, 42-25, 58-44, 75-61
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 8, Panko 2, Maciulis 7, Kapono 5 (3as), Lasme 20 (10rbs), Tsartsaris 8, Diamantidis 13 (7rbs, 8as), Banks 10, Xanthopoulos, Giannopoulos 2, Skordilis
Panionios (Sferopoulos): Bogris 3, Motsenigos, Athineou 8, Keys 3, Milbourne 7, Athanasoulas 2, Jankovic 14, Kavvadas, Pappas 18, Dragisevic 2, Booker 4
*Panathinaikos had injured Roko Leni Ukic (pain in his left leg bicep) and Sofoklis Schortsanitis (ruptured tarsal tunnel) sidelined. On the contrary Jason Kapono debuted and in 12’35’’ minutes game time tallied 5 points (1/3 twos, 1/2 threes, 1rb, 2sts, 3as).
