Panathinaikos secured a win in the clutch at the Nea Smyrni arena versus Panionios, ultimately prevailing 64-62 to sweep in the semis 3-0. It now is to face Olympiacos on Friday (June 7) for the Basket League OPAP Finals, exact time to be set by HEBA.
Panionios broke away from tip-off performing behind more pleasing range. The hosts exploited competing in their home court, stepped out more aggressively; based offensive efforts mainly on Athineou, only to lead (13-6, 6’38’’). A lead they would maintain despite the Greens’ efforts to take over on court. This came to be during second quarter. 16-9 (7’48’’) swiftly became 18-19 (11’13’’) Panathinaikos to get three-point range, Mike Bramos the guy of the hour. The clover through a triple Diamantidis would drain from way down town got up by 5 (22-27, 14’). Panathinaikos’ improved performance also featured Schortsanitis who took upon attempts, drew fouls, the same way he had for first quarter. Panionios found the way to counteract, Giorgos Bogris to get game and make baskets. Giannis Athineou got the teams a tie (29-29, 16’14’’), Vlado Jankovic to follow with a triple to 32-31 (18’). During the last two minutes of the second quarter, Ramel Curry was the one to undertake advances for the clover, player to form half time score 35-36.
Panathinaikos stepped out for a third consecutive game as the better third quarter opponent. Lasme and Curry jogged the score to 37-44 (23’30’’) and a 7 point advantage for the Greens. Diamantidis and Tsartsaris shined through the next two plays getting both teams in double digits a difference for the first time in the game (37-48, 24’50’’). Panionios, as it had done throughout the entire season, never threw in the towel managing to cut back its deficit (45-51, 29’). Curry, Bramos and Lasme, was the trio to offer their team a 12 point cushion (47-59, 34’). Once more however the hosts found the way to stay alive in the game and behind a pair of back-to-back trifectas unleashed by Nikos Pappas got the gap back to 2 points (62-64), 38’’8 pending on the game clock. Panathinaikos would fail to get score in its final offensive attempt while at the other end of the court Panionios, with less than 13 seconds to appeal to the basket, would be unable to score the game giver three attempted by Jankovic, game to finally end 62-64.
Referees: Christodoulou, Anastopoulos, Bitis
Quarters: 18-13, 35-36, 45-52, 62-64
Panionios (Sferopoulos): Bogris 7, Payne, Athineou 13, Keys 8, Bilburne, Athanassoulas, Batis 10, Jankovic 9, Kavvadas, Pappas 9, Agravanis, Booker 6
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Schortsanitis 8, Bramos 9, Curry 13, Maciulis 2, Ukic 4, Lamse 8, Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 9, Gist, Guinn 3, Xanthopoulos 4
Press Conference
Panathinaikos Head Coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, stated: “I believe it was the best thing that could happen to us at the moment, such a game. We had had no such tough games, contact games after the end of the Euroleague season; especially some guys who have little experience in how our League is played. It was a great positive element. It was the best thing that could happen. We stepped out way too loose and through Sofo we managed to read into situations in our offense in the second quarter. In the end we failed to keep a clear mind, performed easy turnovers allowing Panionios to gain on us. Good luck next to Panionios and Giannis (Sferopoulos)”.
When asked about how tough it is for a team to face Panathinaikos (or Olympiacos) and how a team might manage to administer the different level of competitiveness with such clubs, Pedoulakis stressed: “It is extremely difficult… What you can do is “steal” certain games. It is something that can happen both to Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. You will have to get the teams after a road game, exhausted, not that focused because their mind will be on Euroleague. Reaching the playoffs you might also be able to steal a game. To win the series however is extremely difficult”.
Panionios Head Coach, Giannis Sferopoulos, stated: “After two games at the OAKA where we had failed to perform well, it was important for us to do so today; perform according to the way we had all season long. That was the character we presented today. On the one hand we are satisfied to have performed the way we did, on the other we do have a bitter taste from being unable to score in the last offense. It was certainly a performance we wanted for mentality reasons also after the two previous results we had brought in the last two games versus Panathinaikos; but mainly because we had performed poorly in those games. We had aspired to re-establish ourselves were we had been through the entire season. We began quite focused, edged our opponent, but Panathinaikos exploited its offensive boards, it gathered 11 through the first half and that was the reason we suffered easy baskets. As far as our defense, we kept the game in a low scoring pool, Panathinaikos was unable to pick up the pace, did actually get quite a lead, but we kept fighting. We got big-time range to bring back the lead to a single two pointer. Congratulations to Panathinaikos. We leave this series behind us and focus on the ensuing season, the games versus Rethymno to define who will end up in third place”.
Concerning how difficult it is for the players to drive motivation for a meaningless 3rd place series, Sferopoulos stated: “It is extremely tough! Especially when you have already managed to rank 3rd after 10 months of games and a 20-to-6 winning record. A 3rd place series exists only in the Greek League. But since we are obligated we will do the best we can… Even in the semis it was tough because, so much for us, as for Rethymno respectively, it is tough to be facing Panathinaikos or Olympiacos. Both teams are immensely tough and you must find a way to motivate your players”.
Stephane Lasme stated: “It was a tough game. In all three games Panionios challenged us competitively, threatened us at certain points. We are happy to have been able to get this win also, to have got the series 3-0 and that we will not have to play another game versus Panionios; team which has been doing a great job”. About him defending Nikos Pappas in the last play of the game, he stated: “When it comes to a player like Pappas you must be prepared for any action. He is a really tough player that can do all sorts of things. And in the last second all I had in mind were his moves. I was trying to think what he wanted to do and what he could do”.
Marios Batis stressed: “We had been unfair to ourselves during the last two games not living up to the image we had all through the season. Today we put in a huge effort. We were a different team to have our fans assistance and the game was finally ruled in the last second. We are sad to have lost today, but from this point forward all we think of is Rethymno and sealing third place. Good luck to Panathinaikos in the League’s finals”.
