Panathinaikos made history, as today it would become the first European team ever to compete in China on a domestic club level. The final score 66-67 marked in Foshan gave the Greens the win but was of little importance, since the clover came up against an entirely different style of basketball, had many absentees (Lasme, Maciulis, Ukic, Bramos, Fotsis, Mavrokefalidis) and Pedoulakis trying to share out the time, check out schemes, knowing that the team has a long way ahead of it with the more tough preseason games to follow.
Argyris Pedoulakis chose Curry, Pappas, Diamantidis, Shang and Batiste for his starters. The Chinese player, who earlier had greeted his compatriots on behalf of the Greens, was the one to make the first shot of the clash, opening the score 0-2 behind a dunk; then on to Mike Batiste to 3-7 (2’35’’) and next to Nikos Pappas (6-11, 5’50’’). The two would live the floor to offer their position to Skordilis and Jankovic, Ping Shang then to do the same for James Gist. Vladimiros Jankovic would get the score 10-13, before Diamantidis would also be offered a few breathers, being substituted by Apostolidis. Ramel Curry would offer Panathinaikos a five point lead (10-15, 7’15’’) only for the home team to run a mini surge to fly ahead at the end of the first quarter (17-15).
Batiste and Gist got down to business to bring the game back to order (17-19, 11’) but it would be only momentarily, since assisted by certain calls, Foshan LongLions would lead once more (24-19, 14’25’’). The Greens did not allow this edge to solidify, paced themselves once more and Gist the man of the hour would cruise the clover to 24-28 (17’50’’), Batiste to get the score board reading 24-30 (18’20’’). The two Americans were also the protagonists next to make the score 25-34 (19’30’’). At the end of the first half however the home-team would make a triple from way down town off the glass, would also win a foul and would manage to make the most of a four-point-play to pick up the trail down to five (29-34).
Even though Batiste and Pappas would maintain good shooting range all the way up to 35-38 (23’), the Chinese still managed to lead (39-38, 24’). But it was only a temporary issue since Ramel Curry and Shang would turn things around to 40-42 (24’). Pappas would go show-time to mark 45-45 (27’), but a trifecta unleashed by the home-team would give first say once more to the Chinese team (48-47). Response would come from the line as Pappas would make 2-for-2 free throws (48-49) and Apostolidis would make a field goal to 48-51, third quarter to rest at the smallest possible spread (50-51).
The game image would not change much in the fourth quarter, as James Gist would steal the show when it came to blocked shots (4 for the game) and slam dunks. The lead would continue to swap hands, but Panathinaikos would be the team with first say in matter to ultimately prevail behind final 66-67 in Foshan.
Quarter: 17-15, 29-34, 50-51, 66-67
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Batiste 20, Pappas 16(2), Shang 4, Jankovic 4, Curry 8, Gist 11(1), Diamantidis 2, Apostolidis 2, Diamantakos, Charalampopoulos, Skordilis, Giouzelis
Foshan: Luo Zhi 14, Yu Meng Xuang 8, Zhu Xuhang 9, Liu Zhi Hao 3, Liang Fei, Zheng Zhun 18, Xiu Guo Tsang 10
PHOTOS
