Panathinaikos is only one victory away from the Basket League OPAP finals. The Greens got the semis series 2-0 downing Panionios 81-55 today at the OAKA.
Panionios found itself in the lead half way through first quarter (5-10, 4’13’’). Panathinaikos tried to react, tied at 5’ (10-10), both teams went neck and neck for the next few minutes (14-14, 8’) prior to the Greens putting the pedal to the metal using defense as their main weapon, to get the score board reading 28-16 (12’), Dimitris Diamantidis draining a three pointer. The gap got to 13 points (32-19, 14’25’’) praise to attempts from Ukic and Schortsanitis. The guests tried, reduced their deficit (35-27, 17’10), half time to go into session, hosting a 38-27 score.
Ramel Curry stepped up first, game recommencing. Chipping in 5 points he flexed the score to 43-27 (21’), he teammates to pick up on the tone he set. To pick up from where Curry had left off, Bramos, Lasme and Diamantidis followed, the captain to sent the gap beyond 20 points for the first time in the game (52-30, 23’22’’). Bramos continued to get range, Xanthopoulos to be the player to drill a three to 62-37 (27’28’’). Game image failed to shift much, Schortsanitis to jog the score to 67-39 (29’30’’). Fourth quarter hosted the same scenery, the game becoming of a procedural nature all the way down to 81-55, final game score. The teams’ next matchup is set for Monday (June 3) at the Nea Smyrni indoor arena at 20.00 (ET1).
Referees: Karakatsounis, Foufis, Tavoulareas
Quarters: 17-16, 38-27, 67-41, 81-55
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Schortsanitis 9, Bramos 15, Curry 5, Maciulis 6, Ukic 6 (4as), Lasme 11 (3stl), Tsartsaris 2 (6rbs), Diamantidis 9, Gist 5, Guinn 2, Xanthopoulos 5, Giannopoulos 6
Panionios (Sferopoulos): Bogris 3, Payne 5, Athineou 2, Keyes, Milburne 10, Athanassoulas 8, Batis 3, Jankovic 10, Kavvadas 2, Pappas 9, Agravanis 3, Booker
*Stephane Lasme felt some discomfort in his Achilles tendon during the encounter.
*Panathinaikos’ next practice will be on Sunday (June 2).
Press Conference
Panathinaikos Head Coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, stated after the end of the playoffs second semifinal versus Panionios: “The game was almost the same as the previous one. We failed to step out on court aggressively, something which had been expected. We called upon our strong feature; our defense. Up to 30’ we were extremely good in backcourt but in offense we could have established a more pleasing pace. We went for an exceptional passing game during third quarter, the best thing you can achieve in a basketball clash. This resulted in us having better options in frontcourt. From that point forward we proceeded on saving energy, getting to clear off the bench, certain guys to get game-time others to get rest. We are pleased in our committing few mistakes and in the team spirit we illustrated. In the end we opted for certain personal attempts, something which however, is only natural. Panionios is a good, competitive team which has committed a good stride through the entire season”.
When questioned on Stephane Lasme and his seeming to feel discomfort during the game, he stated: “He felt pain in his Achilles tendon. The medical staff will estimate his case and we will see what will happen”.
Panionios Head Coach, Giannis Sferopoulos, stated: “It was a game similar to the series’ first one. We were competitive during first half, but once more, in the beginning of the second half we presented Panathinaikos with the opportunity of getting to easy buckets, proceeding on to fast breaks and finishing up easily around the basket. The point spread expanded and it was tough to keep up, which is usually the case when it is you are facing a mature team in its home court. At that point, you try for the best. We were more competitive compared to the first encounter but so was Panathinaikos. We aspire to improve. Even though the final score average was again expanded to our disadvantage, I believed we improved and that it indicative of neither our performance nor our image through the encounter and this bothers us. These games show us the way we should be playing, in views of becoming a better team. Congratulations to Panathinaikos and its coach for winning”.
James Gist stressed: “We had aspired to get out aggressively on court but failed to do what we were supposed to. Panionios is a tough team to enforce its pace already from tip-off and gave us a hard time through first half. It is a team to fight at every play, in every possession. We discussed stuff during half time, focused on what it was we should be doing, changed the game pace and ended the game the way we wanted: Behind a win”.
Giannis Athanassoulas added: “We were more competitive during first half, but for third quarter Panathinaikos upped the ante once more and it is very tough on the road, for a team to pick up the trail and finally win in the game. We must check our mistakes out; we have a pair of games in Nea Smyrni and we will be giving it our all in order to get to what we deserve; because the final outcome in these two last games, was not what we deserve”.
