Basketball
Panathinaikos is forced to drink the bitter glass
Panathinaikos OPAP could not escape the inevitable at the Palau Blaugrana on a night that knew the objective difficulties. The mind is finally in “Dyo Aorakia”. writes Alexandros Trigas.
This also applies to Panathinaikos OPAP, it passed. The game against Barcelona at the Palau Blaugrana is history for the Greens, who – given their absences – knew they had nothing substantial to claim. No reason for victory.
So what’s left? Health. Yes, because the shamrock is the most important part of his daily life. Especially when the time comes, with Dimitris Priftis working with the backdrop on February 18 when the Greek Cup semi-finals will be played.
After all, the quality is limited, so the slightest loss causes big problems. Therefore, the moment Jeremy Evans fell to the ground after colliding with Nicolas Laprovitola in the first ten minutes, everyone on the green bench froze for a moment.
The innocence of the first few weeks
There can be no question of automation and smooth running in the front half of the field, not without the two main regional pillars of the team, from whose hands most possessions are lost. So what’s left? The effort of others to do as much as possible and the freedom (sic) of Daryl Macon to run the boss of the attack.
Only the 26-year-old guard failed because of the (expected) Spanish pressure that was put on him from the first minutes. In many cases, it worked with the naivety that characterized him in the early weeks of the season. He held the ball in his hands more than he should, thereby delaying the greens’ possession manifestation, but more importantly guiding decisions made under the pressure of opposing defense and time.
The double digit score he scored (12) doesn’t tell the truth considering he had 3/8 two points and 0/3 three points. At the same time, the errors he made were bigger than the assists he gave (4 instead of 3).
Regular tracks can no longer be criticized. It’s not possible, because at this year’s event we are talking about two opposite sizes, with different goals and concepts.
The decision that shows the goal
Panathinaikos OPAP’s final regular-season placement is obviously of little consequence. In fact, the story cannot be changed for the rest of the event. The only goal that currently stands is the Greek Cup and that’s the direction everything is moving in the Cloverleaf.
Nemanja Nedovic’s decision to stay in Athens to rest clearly “points” in that direction.
Does an organization like Panathinaikos OPAP find it difficult to suspend EuroLeague games? At other times it would be like that. However, at the moment only realism and perception of the prevailing situation will help.
The Greens cannot risk anything in the EuroLeague with the risk of falling behind or losing what they have circled. In this case the Final Four. In “Dyo Aorakia” they are judged. Both for the result and for their image.
As for the EuroLeague? Each race is – for quite some time – a commitment that can bring more problems than wins – given the situation. That’s why ‘damage control’ is key after nights like Palau Blaugrana.
Source: sport24
Jessica Martinez is an author at Sportish, a publication dedicated to sports news and analysis. She covers various topics related to sports and provides insightful commentary on the latest developments in the world of sports.
Basketball
“Victories over Euroleague teams, the Super Cup in Belgrade, the birth of Jean-Charles’ twins.” Vatutin named the brightest moments of 2025
President of basketball CSKA Andrei Vatutin, in a conversation with Match TV, named the brightest moments of the outgoing year, and also told how to meet 2026.
At the end of the 2024/25 season, CSKA became the champion of the VTB United League. In the current regular season, the army team is in the lead, having won 16 victories in 18 games.
— How satisfied are you with 2025?
— First of all, I would like to say that the team we have now is very dear to me. I am often asked: which season’s team do you like the most? For some reason, everyone thinks that the answer will be related to our victories in the Euroleague. Not at all. Every year we have a unique team. I’m happy to work with the guys we have today. I really value the victories in the United League that we achieved with this Team. That’s right, with a capital letter. The guys communicate well with each other. We have a great environment in the dressing room. I am very glad that our veterans – Kurbanov, Antonov, Ukhov – continue their careers. They mean a lot to me and to CSKA.
It is clear that if you won the championship in the past year, there is no reason to be dissatisfied with the sports result. But again, I’m happy to work with the coaching staff, our players, our club office and I would like everyone to be healthy and for us to continue to win together. I think everyone will have a lot of wishes in their New Year’s toasts. But surely each of the CSKA employees, players and coaches will wish us good luck and that there will be no injuries. If everything goes well, then there will be victories.
In addition to winning the championship, our team had many more bright moments. Birth of twins to Livio Jean-Charles. We played the pre-season in Dubai for the first time. The United League Super Cup was played for the first time in Belgrade. Plus we beat two Euroleague teams, which doesn’t mean anything, but in principle it indicates that we can now play with Euroleague teams. And I’ll probably also note Kurbanov’s pass to Livio in Krasnodar, when they scored 0.6 seconds before the end. A very bright moment. This suggests that basketball has become faster over the past decades: what took three seconds in Munich was now decided in 0.6.
Of course, my family gives me many very bright positive moments.
— How will you celebrate the New Year? What will be on the festive table?
— In Moscow, with my family. As always, it will be delicious. I generally love to eat (laughs). So to say that today I eat tasteless, but on New Year’s Day it’s delicious, would be wrong. Before the chimes, as always, we will listen to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin’s New Year’s address. Then we’ll have a glass of champagne, and then maybe move on to red wine.
— The Year of the Fire Horse is ahead. Does this mean that CSKA must definitely become the champion?
— (Laughs) I’ll say this: we don’t owe anyone anything. Whether it’s the year of the blue Horse or the Ox, our goals remain the same: we will try to please our fans. The Year of the Red Horse does not impose additional responsibilities and obligations. Of course, it’s nice that it’s the Year of the Horse, but it will be all the more interesting and enjoyable to ride this horse. Our competitors will probably oppose this. It is clear that the New Year’s toasts of the leaders of UNICS, Zenit, and Lokomotiv will also be for victory. Now is the middle of the season, and the most interesting is ahead,” Vatutin told Match TV.
Watch live broadcasts of VTB United League matches on the television channels of the Match holding company, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source: Sportbox
I am a sports journalist who has been writing for a news website since 2015. My work primarily focuses on sports news, but I have also written about other topics such as technology and the arts. I have an extensive background in journalism, having worked as a reporter for a local newspaper before moving to a news website.
President of the Zaporozhye Regional Basketball Federation Valery Elkinson Summarized the results of the first part of the season for BC Zaporozhye.
– Valery, at the beginning of the season you made predictions about BC Zaporozhye’s performance in the Super League and the Ukrainian Cup. The second round is already underway. Are you happy with the results?
– Yes, I am satisfied. Many experts predicted that we would be ninth or tenth, but we need work, system and team for the result. We have a very small staff: club president Viktor Stelmakov, chief accountant Tatyana Kozachenko and media director Roman Polyachenko. These people have been working for the benefit of Zaporizhzhya basketball for years, and thanks to this, we achieved the current result.
– Which matches did you like the most? Where did the team perform at its best?
– First of all, both matches will be played against Kharkov Falcons. Unfortunately, we lost the first match in overtime and won the second match by one point. These are important matches as the opponent’s head coach is our former mentor Valery Plekhanov. The matches were quite challenging and interesting.
– What about the matches against Dnepr?
– “Dnepr” is the leader of the championship today and so far it is difficult for us to fight with them. Our main duty now is to protect basketball in such difficult times. We plan to compete for medals in the future as well. We have a common dream with the city and regional authorities: to return the European Cup of basketball to Zaporozhye.
– How do you evaluate the role of American legionnaires in BC Zaporozhye?
– The team has a very good microclimate, foreign players are very well integrated into the team. They are the leaders of the team today. At the same time, you must understand that times are difficult and communicating with strangers in such conditions is a particular challenge. But despite all the difficulties, the team works in unity and produces results.
Captain Anton Buts plays a big role; He is a leader not only on the field, but also in the locker room, helping young people and communicating with foreign players.
– Anton Buts plays a very consistent game. Was he given any special assignments?
– Anton has been in our club for many years and is playing better every season. He has a strong character and he shows it in his matches. He manages the team; This is very important.
– How do young people express themselves?
– We are satisfied. Ilya Lishchina is our student who returned home after studying on the Dnieper. Vyacheslav Kiktev is a hardworking player, although there are some difficulties. We also signed another student, Alexander Petrenko, which allowed us to expand our squad.
– Where is it more difficult to play; In the Super League or the Ukrainian Cup?
– These are different tournaments. It is a cup elimination match. For years we had no luck in the draw; We reached Dnepr early. This year the draw was more favorable and for the first time in ten years BC Zaporozhye advanced to the Final Four. In the cup, everything is decided by a single match, while in the championship, the distance is longer.
– How do you evaluate the work of head coach Dmitry Shchiglinsky?
– Dmitry actively participated in the formation of the team, has his own vision of the game and tactics. We can say that he did the right thing with the choice of actors, including foreign actors. We try to create conditions where the team can work safely despite all the difficulties.
Source: Sport UA
Ralph Bean is a writer for Sportish. Ralph has written about sports news for the last two years, and is currently an author on the site. He enjoys writing about sports, and hopes to cover more stories in the future.
Krasnodar Lokomotiv-Kuban defeated Saratov Avtodor in a home match of the VTB United League regular season.
The meeting ended with a score of 88:65 (19:17, 29:16, 22:20, 18:12). At Avtodor, Alen Hadzhibegovic from Avtodor scored a double-double (26 points and 17 rebounds). For Krasnodar, Jeremiah Martin scored the most points – 25.
Lokomotiv-Kuban (12 wins and 6 losses) is third in the standings, Avtodor (4–15) is 10th.
Watch live broadcasts of VTB United League matches on the television channels of the Match holding company, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source: Sportbox
I am a sports journalist who has been writing for a news website since 2015. My work primarily focuses on sports news, but I have also written about other topics such as technology and the arts. I have an extensive background in journalism, having worked as a reporter for a local newspaper before moving to a news website.
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“Victories over Euroleague teams, the Super Cup in Belgrade, the birth of Jean-Charles’ twins.” Vatutin named the brightest moments of 2025
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