Panathinaikos could almost taste victory but the offensive black out during the final quarter of the game resulted in a defeat from Real Madrid by 58-54 at the OAKA indoor arena for THY Euroleague Top16 Game 10.
Dominance belonged to Panathinaikos for the greatest part of the clash. It took control over matters on the court straight after tip-off. After initial 2-4 (1’30’’) getting range from beyond the arc but also opting for correct offenses, striking Real Madrid right on the spot. The Greens sailed to 18-9 (9’10’’) and behind an on fire Sofoklis Schortsanitis in the last minute of the first quarter and in the first of the second the gap reached 11 points (22-11). The Spanish input an effort not to allow Panathinaikos to get away. They crept up (22-17, 12’20’’), but once more solutions were established for the clover. Lasme, Ukic, Tsartsaris and Gist undertook the offensive assignment to offer appropriate solutions, aided Panathinaikos to cruise ahead of its opponents even more all the way up to 13 points (33-20, 17’40’’) and slightly prior to the end of the first half to 14 points (37-23, 19’10’’). Dimitris Diamantidis led; defense was effective and did not allow Real Madrid to open the game pace, while the fans gave their own boost creating an amazing atmosphere.
The clover maintained dominance for third quarter with the guests however having started to appeal more and enforce further pressure in defense. Panathinaikos though found solutions it aspired towards to form 43-31 (23’40’’) and slightly later to 49-38 (27’30’’). From the last minutes of the third quarter however the Greens started to have difficulty in hitting the target in offense. The Spanish exploited it, third quarter rested at 49-44 and the gap amongst opponents closed.
The last quarter was nothing but an offensive draught for Panathinaikos. Let it be noted that over this period of time it had only two valid field shots; one behind Ukic at 30’54’’ (51-44) and one behind Mike Bramos at 34’56’’ (54-46). From that point forward offensive gathering was all Real Madrid game. It ran a 12-0 streak and won the clash behind final 54-58 at the OAKA arena.
Referees: Sahin (ITA), Lottermoser (GER), Nuran (Τουρκία)
Quarters: 20-11, 37-27, 49-44, 54-58
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 11, Maciulis 5, Kapono 4, Ukic 8, Lasme 2 (2st), Tsartsaris 8 (7rbs), Diamantidis 3 (7rbs, 6as), Gist 5 (7rbs), Banks, Xanthopoulos, Skordilis, Schortsanitis 8 (3as)
Real Madrid (Laso): Draper 4, Fernandez 8, Suarez, Reyes 13, Mirotic 3, Rodriquez 6, Hettsheimeir 11, Begic 6, Carroll, Llull 7, Slaughter
Diamantidis alone at second place
Dimitris Diamantidis needed only one steal in order to position himself alone at second place of the all time Euroleague respective list. Already from first half he was tallying 2, had reached 322, leaving Pablo Prigioni behind.
