Panathinaikos started out on the right foot in the Greek U-19 Championship. It outshone Panionios in the premiere 79-73 at the “Panagia Alexiotissa” indoor arena.
The game was exiting all through its 40 minutes. Panionios led 27-18 (13’), Panathinaikos gained on it (33-32, 15’), flew ahead (38-39, 19’30’’), only for the Blaugrana to lead yet again at the end of the first half (41-39).
The Greens behind Charalampopoulos, Giannikos and Diamantakos in leading roles led (51-48 at 25’ and 60-54 at 28’). Panionios reduced its deficit (70-68, 35’), Diamantakos with a three-point-play made the score 75-70 a minute before the game buzzer, the clover to establish a significant win, final score 79-73.
The Panathinaikos coach, Kostas Papadopoulos, stated: “It was the first game in the tournament and not a final. It was a great win, because it was committed against a very important opponent. Let us not forget that this very team of Panionios is the one that won the Greek U-17 Championship last season and it has two boys on its roster with Greek League experience. Our goal in the tourney is to examine each game on its own”.
Quarters: 19-18, 41-39, 59-62, 73-79
Referees: Panagiotou-Konstantinopoulos
Panionios (Degaitas): Toliopoulos 22 (4), Pappas, Petropoulos 10, Tsimpoukis 4(1), Tsilagas 4, Agravanis 16 (2), Billis 14 (2), Georgiadis 3 (1), Alexias, Psomiadis
Panathinaikos (Papadopoulos): Erebenazie 7, Jivelekas 4, Dafalias, Giannikos 28(4), Giouzelis 1, Loukas, Charalampopoulos 9 (1), Thoedorou 7 (1), Nikolakopoulos, Diamantakos 20, Anagnostakis 3
