Panathinaikos edged the win it was after! In yet another thriller for the masses, defined in the clutch, both teams close at score, victory landed in Green hands. Final score 65-63 this evening provided the clover with the lead in the playoffs series, getting standings at 1-2.
Barcelona took the lead first (0-3, 0’40’’) off a triple by Juan Carlos Navarro only to lead again praise to one of his threes (5-6, 3’30’’). Panathinaikos however regained game control rapidly and actually without Diamantidis on the team initially. The clover captain came in off the bench to offer shots to jog the Greens to a +5 cushion (13-8 at 6’40’’, 15-10 at 8’), while Lasme and Bramos sent the gap into double digits (20-10) at the end of the first quarter. Panathinaikos found solutions to whatever Barcelona threw its way, expanding the gap to 15 points (29-14, 13’). The distance between the teams remained in double figures all the way down to 16’ (33-22), curtain to fall in first half, the Greens up by 9 (38-29).
Panathinaikos seemed to have paced itself, had significant backing from the fans’ stands, kept its opponent within 9 points (40-31, 21’) game recommencing, but through the next few minutes Barcelona counteracted initially behind Navarro and then Ante Tomic to execute for the guests. Gradually the hosted managed to pick up the trail and actually lead on the floor (42-43, 25’). The game maintained its derby character, the lead to swap hands during the next few minutes and the Catalans to reach a +4 advantage (51-55, 32’45’’). James Gist drove to the basket to reduce the deficit to two points (53-55, 34’) but Abrines re-presented his team with its four point lead (53-57, 35’). Gist answered back immediately to 55-57, Schortsanitis made it a one-point game (56-57, 36’) only to lead on to the captain’s turn: A trifecta unleashed from his hand jogged the score to 59-57 at 37’, putting faith back in Panathinaikos of winning. The game was far but over however. Wallace and Jasikevicius scored back to 59-63 (38’), game to fall back into Panathinaikos’ court: Lasme’s efforts, Maciulis’ steal and then a wild off-the-glass triple from Diamantidis got the score board reading 64-63, only for Gist to go 1-for-2 from the line to create final game score, the fans to leap for joy next as Juan Carlos Navarro would miss the bucket to settle the game for Barcelona.
The teams’ next date has been scheduled for Thursday (April 18, 21.45). If Panathinaikos wins it seals its Euroleague Final Four ticket.
Referees: Lamonica (ITA), Lottermoser (GER), Javor (SLO)
Quarters: 20-10, 38-29, 50-51, 65-63
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 14, Maciulis 5, Ukic 6, Lasme 11 (8rb), Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 12, Gist 9, Banks, Xanthopoulos, Schortsanitis 4 (3as)
Barcelona (Pascual): Sada, Huertas, Abrines 6, Navarro 17, Jasikevicius 13, Wallace 5, Ingles, Lorbek 8, Jawai 2, Tomic 12
