Panathinaikos AKTOR claimed victory over Promitheas Vikos Cola (91-73) and secured a spot in the final of the OPAP Final 8 Greek Men’s Cup, held in Crete.
Panathinaikos AKTOR started the game with strong defense, taking an early lead (2-7 at 3’). With a balanced offensive approach, the team maintained control until the end of the first quarter (17-22).
The Greens' advantage remained unchallenged in the second quarter, extending to +10 (31-41) by halftime. Strong shooting percentages from two-point range and complete control of the defensive rebounds were key factors in the team’s dominance.
At the start of the second half, Panathinaikos AKTOR did not allow Promitheas Vikos Cola to gain momentum or believe in a comeback. With defense remaining the cornerstone and offensive execution gradually improving, the lead grew to +13 (42-53), a margin that was maintained at the end of the third quarter (50-63 at 30’).
The final stretch of the game followed a similar pattern, as Panathinaikos AKTOR quickly pushed the lead to +19 (50-69 at 32’), ultimately securing the victory and advancing to the OPAP Final 8 Greek Men’s Cup final.
QUARTERS: 17-21, 31-41, 50-63, 73-91.
PROMITHEAS VIKOS COLA (Papatheodorou): Davis, Walker 23 (5), Bazinas 7 (1), Williams 3 (1), Shitu 2, Lagios, Chrysikopoulos, Prekas, Oikonomopoulos, Varnado 11, Iwundu 19 (2), Karagiannidis 8.
PANATHINAIKOS AKTOR (Ataman): Kalaitzakis 5 (1), Brown 8, Moraitis 4, Sloukas 6, Osman 13 (3), Samodurov 2, Papapetrou 2, Grant, Nunn 11 (1), Gabriel 14, Hernangomez 9 (1), Mitoglou 17 (3).
Ataman: "We played well and shared playing time"
Here is what Ergin Ataman said after the end of the game:
"We took the game seriously against Promitheas Vikos Cola, which is a strong and dangerous team. We started with the right approach. Defensively, we did a great job, especially against their guards. For three quarters, we played very aggressive defense. Nan missed several shots, but we still scored 91 points, which is important for us. We played well, distributed playing time evenly, and will be ready for the final.
I hope that Mitoglou continues performing like this—he was excellent tonight. At this level, EuroLeague teams face many tough games within a short period. It won’t affect us. Both teams have strong rosters to compensate for any injuries. I believe all our matchups in the past two years have been spectacular. Olympiacos is the best team in Europe, and we are the best team in Greece."
