Panathinaikos was defeated by Anadolu Efes in Istanbul, 78-64 final score to seal the clash for THY Euroleague Top16 Game 2.
The hosts were the better opponent provided after tip-off, took control of the game reigns and never let go down the stretch despite Panathinaikos’ efforts. Initial 9-2 (2’04’’) became 9-5 (3’07’’), later to flex to 11-7 (3’50’’), only for the gap to expand even further slightly later to 13 points (22-9, 6’57’’), Anadolu Efes starting off with 4-for-5 triples. Mike Bramos on the other hand was the one to try to offer breathers to the clover in offense. By his 12 chipped in points (2-for-2 twos and 3-for-3 threes), Panathinaikos tried to stay alive in the game and managed to pick up its trail to 6 points (26-20, 12’15’’). It was unable however to get solutions from other players, the Turks got to second chances off offensive rebounds, performing behind great range continuously from beyond the arc; result being teams to head to the locker rooms at 45-32, Anadolu Efes having scored 6-for-9 three-pointers.
Return to the floor provided the home-team with further boost of confidence, which team having completely enforced its pace got all the way up by 21 points (53-32, 24’); edge behind which it actually managed to seal third quarter (64-43). Panathinaikos made its final attempt to close the gap between itself and Anadolu Efes during the fourth quarter. It fed the ball into the paint to Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who tried to make his teammates honest men. Behind his point accumulation and a three drilled by Jason Kapono, the gap fell back to 12 points (76-64, 39’36’’), only for Vujacic to pull a marked shot to beat the game buzzer, final game score 78-64.
Referees: Belosevic (SRB), Perez Pizarro (ESP), Vojinovic (MNE)
Quarters: 24-17, 45-32, 64-43, 78-64
Anadolu Efes (Mahmuti): Farmar 13, Vujacic 6, Erden 9, Shipp 8, Gonlum 8, Savanovic 11, Lucas 12, Guler 5, Barac 6
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 16, Maciulis 7, Kapono 10 (4as), Lasme 6 (10rbs), Tsartsaris, Gist 6, Banks, Schortsanitis 15
*Panathinaikos competed without Dimitris Diamantidis who has suffered an injury to his inner thigh and did not follow the delegation to Turkey.
