Panathinaikos was the winner tonight in Hala Pionir, after an amazing and tough game. Greens trailed by 15 points, but the spirit of the fighter was the one that prevailed and it helped them to get to an overtime win. Panathinaikos edged Red Star 90-86 in Belgrade and got an important win in a really "warm" atmopshere.
The two teams got into the game hesitating a little, but Panathinaikos was the team that got first the lead (6-11, 4'35''). Serbs with their fans' help and executing well, in a really tough game, found themselves leading 26-22 at the end of the first period. Red Star got their game going in the second period, while at the same time Greens weren't able to find their rhythm. The result was obvious in this 48-33 at the end of the first half.
The player who changed the pace of the game and gave the energy needed in defense, but also in offense was Nikos Pappas. Panathinaikos got to a 12-0, closed the margin (48-45) and the game seemed to start over. Red Star found the way to expand the lead, mostly with long distance shooting and the really tough defense. They got a +12 points lead (60-48, 31'07''). It was time for the heart of the champions to speak. Maciulis, Bramos, but also Lasme and Batiste, with Diamantidis leading the "band" fought back and Panathinaikos led to 69-73 and 71-74. But Shilb wasn't ready to lose. He made a 3pointer and sent the game to overtime (74-74).
The clover got the lead in overtime and held it to the end, but it was never completely clear who the winner is going to be. Bramos and Maciulis were accurate, Mike Batiste did an excellent job in the first minutes of the game and the last ones too, while Jonas Maciulis was there to lead to the final 86-90.
Referees: Sahin, Conte, Paternico
Quarters: 26-22, 48-33, 56-48, 74-74 (κα), 86-90
Red Star (Radonjic): Mitrovic 2, Lazic, Blazic 14, Simonovic 7, Marjanovic 4, Radenovic 10, Katic 12, Nelson 1, Jenkins 17, Shilb 19
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Bramos 9, Curry, Batiste 13, Fotsis, Ukic, Lasme 7, Mavrokefalidis 7, Diamantidis 12 (4st, 9αssist), Gist 2, Pappas 24, Maciulis 14
*Prior to the game Red Star honored Boban Jankovic through his son Vladimir Jankovic in an emotional short ceremony.
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