Panathinaikos got the playoffs series 2-0 edging Ikaros Kallithea 78-62 at the Esperos indoor arena. Now the Greens must wait for their next opponent to be defined in tomorrow’s encounter PanioniosVsAris at the Nea Smyrni indoor arena.
If one opponent stepped out onto court more aggressively, that was Ikaros. The home team exploited every uncontested shot it got to, opted for three-point shots to get up by 10 at 7’50’’ (18-8) and then again at 9’20’’ (23-13). Panathinaikos seemed to snap out of it in the second quarter and mainly through backcourt, where it toughened up, while also finding many offensive solutions behind Ramel Curry far from the basket and Sofoklis Schortsanitis from the paint. 23-14 (10’), became 27-29 (15’40’’), Curry scoring three back-to-back triples only for Schortsanitis to pick up where he left off (29-33, 17’25’’), Curry and Ukic to score all the way down to the end of the first half (32-41).
The Greens kept up at the same pace, game recommencing, Curry and Schortsanitis remaining the protagonists, cruising the clover to +13 (42-55, 27’). Ikaros tried to creep up on its guest; Giannakidis aided the home team making shots from beyond the arc (47-55, 28’10’’). Response was immediate. RT Guinn initially and Curry next, presented James Gist with perfect passes to score, player in his turn to make them honest men to 47-59 (29’10’’). Panathinaikos faced no issue in fourth quarter either. Even when Ikaros picked up the trail (52-61, 33’50’’), it found resources immediately, offered show time moments praise to Jonas Maciulis, player to send the lead soaring into over 20 points a difference for the first time on the court (55-76, 38’40’’) and Gist to mark +23 an advantage (55-78) only for the clash to be ultimately sealed at final 62-78.
Referees: Tavoulareas, Panagiotou, Pantelidis
Quarters: 23-14, 32-38, 49-59, 62-78
Ikaros Κ. (Kalafatkais): Strnad, McKnight, Vrkic 15, Faye 12, Gibson 15, Giannakidis 9, Agadakos 1, Mitsialos 2, Simtsak, Alabi 8
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Schortsanitis 21 (8rb), Bramos, Curry 15 (7rb, 3as, 3stl), Maciulis 9, Diamantakos, Ukic 5, Lasme 6, Diamantidis 5 (6rb, 5as), Gist 15, Gwinn 2 (5rb, 3as), Xanthopoulos
Press Conference
Statements of an entirely different tone were made from the two coaches at the Press Conference, since for Ikaros and Giorgos Kalafatakis the season ended today, while on the contrary Panathinaikos is aiming towards a huge goal ahead, one which it aspires to achieve.
Argyris Pedoulakis, Panathinaikos Head Coach, stated: “We didn’t start off on the right foot in the game. Maybe it was the game time, maybe the sun, maybe the heat we were not in the game… And it is easy to spot it in the numbers. Ikaros had a stronger motive entering the game. As time went by we improved our defense, picked up the pace, tried to incorporate the new guys because these are good games to do so. Ikaros had an overall good presence, congratulations and we continue”.
Giorgos Kalafatakis stressed: “Congratulations to Argyris for winning and all the best next in the playoffs. For Panathinaikos the championship begins now. We understand that it has two new players to get adjusted to the team, it has quality and for Panathinaikos the league just got interesting, while for us it was our last game. In the two previous games versus Panionios and Panathinaikos at the OAKA we had no energy and I explained why. I believe that we won the impressions today. We knew that it would be mighty tough not only due to the difference in quality and value but also we did not have the solutions, we had our issues with our shortcomings. We proved though to the world that we are righteously positioned in seventh place for the first time in our history. Congratulations to all the team for the effort and the collaboration. I wish them all the best. I would like to congratulate my co-workers and everyone in the administration and to dedicate seventh place to the administration, to Mr. Angelopoulos and to the BC”s president Dimitris Papadopoulos. This team deserves to find its stride, to have people by its side”.
When asked about his own future maybe again in Ikaros, he stated: “We have no idea what is to be. I would like to believe that I did my job as best possible. I am pleased and I thank all my colleagues. Tomorrow is ruled by others, not by me. I would like to be close to my home, there is a good atmosphere in the team, a good ambience, good colleagues… It would be nice to stay, but it is not up to us”.
Sofoklis Schortsanitis one of the top players of the encounter, stressed: “It was a good game. Regardless to us not starting off well, we got the game going the way we wanted, improving our defense thus reaching victory. It was a step closer to our goal but there is still a long way to go and we must understand that we are almost at the end and it is unacceptable to have such moments of relaxation like the ones we experienced in first half”.
Lazaros Agadakos stated: “For us it was the end of the season. It was a season full of experiences with many unforeseen incidents; others good, others bad. We finished up in good form, especially the last few months. Each of us managed to bring out the best in us. There are other things apart from basketball which took place and which we lived which you cannot spot. We became a good gang, we had great times and it is good to get these things out in the open because it does a whole lot of good to basketball and sports in general”.
