Panathinaikos AKTOR suffered a narrow away defeat against Olympiacos (76-74) in Round 29 of the EuroLeague. Dinos Mitoglou was the top scorer for the Greens with 18 points.
Panathinaikos AKTOR started the game well, taking an early lead (3-6 at 3'), but Olympiacos responded with consecutive successful perimeter shots to gain control (17-6 at 8'). The first quarter ended with the Greens trailing by 11 points (20-9), and the gap widened further in the second quarter (32-15 at 16'). However, a late run before halftime helped Panathinaikos AKTOR reduce the deficit to 10 points (38-28).
At the start of the third quarter, Olympiacos extended its lead once again (50-35 at 24'). Despite increased defensive pressure from Panathinaikos AKTOR, poor perimeter shooting prevented the team from closing the gap to single digits (62-50 at 30').
In the final quarter, Panathinaikos AKTOR improved its shooting percentages and mounted a strong comeback, closing the deficit to just two points (76-74) with less than a minute remaining.
However, in the closing moments, the team was unable to complete the comeback, resulting in a defeat in Round 29 of the EuroLeague.
Quarters: 20-9, 38-28, 62-50, 76-74
Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Williams-Goss 14 (2), Vildoza 5 (1), Lee 6 (1), Fall 10, Vezenkov 18 (1), Papanikolaou 11 (3), Dorsey, Peters 2, Milutinov 5, McKissic 3 (1), Fournier 2.
Panathinaikos AKTOR (Ataman): Brown 11 (2), Sloukas 9, Osman 13 (2), Papapetrou 2, Grant, Pleiss 2, Nunn 7 (1), Gabriel 2, Hernangómez 10 (1), Mitoglou 18 (2).
Ataman: "This team will win the EuroLeague again"
Ergin Ataman reflected on the factors that cost Panathinaikos AKTOR at the SEF and expressed confidence that his team will remain at the top of European basketball.
Full Statement:
"We started the game with a disappointing offensive performance. The worst part was that we held onto the ball for too long, dribbled excessively, made mistakes, and allowed them to score in transition. We lost control of the game in the first quarter. After that, we managed to play our game, even though we did not perform well tonight. Especially our key scorers struggled to find their rhythm. However, we improved our defense minute by minute and came back from a 19-point deficit. In the end, we had a shot to win the game. I congratulate my players for the character they showed in this derby, in this atmosphere, fighting back and having the final possession. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That is basketball. I understand that.
I also understand that the referees allowed Olympiacos to play an aggressive and very physical defense against our offense. That can happen. It is part of playing in an away arena. But when you lose by just one shot, and on the instant replay, you cannot see who last touched the ball—when everyone watching on TV could see that Shaquielle McKissic touched it last—it becomes difficult to accept. The EuroLeague TV commentator himself stated that the ball was out off McKissic, yet possession was awarded to Olympiacos. And on the next play, when Moustapha Fall dunked the ball after taking four or five steps—one, two, three, four, five—you don't call it because you're afraid to make the call. That is hard for me to understand. These were three highly experienced referees. We lost by a single shot, but we are talking about two possessions that were 100% ours."
On Falling Behind by Double Digits:
"We need to analyze our mistakes. When does this happen? When playing away games. Why does it happen? Because, on the road, the defensive pressure on our scorers—like Kendrick Nunn—is two or three times more intense. I understand that. When you start aggressively, but then keep struggling to find rhythm and get frustrated, it impacts the game. Also, Jerian Grant did not take advantage of his shooting opportunities. We need to address this issue, but I also believe others should review their decisions when officiating in such an atmosphere."
On the Lineups He Used and the Upcoming Derbies Against Olympiacos:
"Every game is a different scenario. I am very satisfied with the character the team showed, coming back in this atmosphere and having the final possession, despite the officiating decisions I mentioned earlier. This showed that this team will win the EuroLeague again."
"Our bench players contributed significantly. With the starting five, Olympiacos dominated the first quarter, but when we expanded the rotation, I think the players who came in from the bench helped us a lot. This makes me optimistic for the future. The team’s character remains unchanged. We have five more games to go, and we need to win four of them to secure a top-four finish. We will keep working. We didn’t play great basketball tonight, but we showed character and resilience, which are crucial for the future."
On Takeaways from the Game Heading into the Final Stretch of the Season:
"Tonight was a different kind of game. Olympiacos struggled with their shooting. Kendrick and Kostas also missed their shots. It was more of a physical, high-intensity battle. At times, the pressure and anxiety were evident. I believe both teams played good defense. We didn’t in the first quarter, but we improved as the game progressed. That’s why we didn’t get many open shots tonight."
On a Potential Final Four Clash Against Olympiacos:
"Fortunately, we won’t face Olympiacos in the playoffs. This year’s playoffs will be dangerous for every team. Right now, we haven’t even secured a top-six or top-four finish. First, we need to make the playoffs, get the necessary wins, and then we will see if we meet them later. Last year, both teams made the Final Four, but we didn’t face them, and we won the trophy."
On Olympiacos' 4-0 Record Against Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague, While Panathinaikos Leads 8-2 in the Stoiximan GBL:
"I don’t care about regular-season results. There is only one reality. Last year, we won both the EuroLeague and the Stoiximan GBL. We will see who wins it all this year. Congratulations to Olympiacos on tonight’s victory, but for me, the only results that truly matter will be at the end of the season. I remain very positive after tonight's game, where we lost by a single shot while the referees overlooked two crucial calls."
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