A good first half without the respective continuance led Panathinaikos to defeat behind 86-69 by CSKA Moscow in Russia, in THY Euroleague Top16 Game 7.
The Russians got an edge during the first minutes which reached within 10 points (25-12) for first quarter, the Greens however remaining competitive and managing to pick up the trail down to 2 (27-25, 13’30’’and 31-29, 19’05’’), only to get even closer to a single point distance slightly later at the beginning of the third quarter (39-38). A pair of bad shots, on a day that Panathinaikos was scoring poorly from beyond the arc while its host was performing with great simplicity and range in the respective department (alongside some tough buckets made in the paint), were the beginning of a Panathinaikos black out. The visitors were unable to establish a pace, suffering from 22’ to 33’ a 40-15 partial score in favor of CSKA Moscow, team to reach even a 26 point distance (79-53, 33’).The game was essentially defined as far as its final champion. Panathinaikos tried to come back to the game, reduce its deficit. A 10-0 aided in the score being re-established at 79-63, only for the clash to end 89-69.
Referees: Belosevic (SRB), Boltauzer (SLO), Javor (SLO)
Quarters:25-15, 35-31, 66-50, 86-69
CSKA Moscow (Messina): Teodosic 20, Micov 10, Jackson 11, Krstic 8, Weems 19, Zozulin, Erceg 5, Christmas, Kaun 13
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis):Bramos, Maciulis 15 (6rbs), Kapono 5, Ukic 8, Lasme 12 (8rbs), Tsartsaris 3, Diamantidis 5 (6as, 2stls), Gist 12 (10rbs), Banks 3, Xanthopoulos, Skordilis, Schortsanitis 6
“Our mind still on the Final”
Panathinaikos Head Coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, stated after the end of the encounter: “We failed to instrument the concentration necessary in such an encounter. Especially during the second half we failed to bring out the energy we would have hoped for. Third quarter was catastrophic for us. Nothing functioned correctly in defense. CSKA got to the opportunity to step away from us and mount an edge and we were unable to follow. Ourmind was still on the Final. Wemust not give up. Even this defeat is an experience for all of us. We must learn how to administer both success and failure. We have consecutive games ahead and we must be focused, something we failed to achieve versus CSKA. The mind is of great importance in basketball; maybe the most important element of all. We proceed. All the guys who have experience in such situations can help the others along”.
Jason Kapono added: “We were unable to stay in the game. We lost many uncontested shots and failed to have the necessary concentration. CSKA exploited every single mistake we made. We were good in backcourt through first half but we failed to keep it up. We were not at all good while returning on the floor. Now we have a mighty Euroleague road game ahead versus Zalgiris Kaunas, where we want to win. We will do everything necessary to be prepared”.
