Panathinaikos – Iraklis 70-58: Strong training for the cup

No matter how difficult it was for 30 minutes of play, Panathinaikos got the pink card against the extremely combative Iraklis, which they won 70-58 in OAKA for the postponed game of Stoiximan Basket League 13. The Greens, who played without Nedovic (for recreation reasons), now turn their attention to the Greek Cup Final Four, which will take place in Crete between 18-20/2.

In the game, Iraklis put in a tremendous effort against the hosts but in the last ten minutes the difference in capacity between the two teams and the depth of the bench Panathinaikos had had the talking. Thessaloniki came back with just nine players, losing Kostas Papadakis, who left injured. Leader for Panathinaikos was Okaro White with 19 points, while Iraklis Garrett stood out with 15 points.

* Hercules was deducted three (3) points
** The Colossus was penalized with one (1) point
*** Apollon Patras was fined one (1) point

The race

Excellent start to the match from the visitors, who came into play without any stress and pressed the greens in defense, forcing them to shoot in the last seconds of the attack. Panathinaikos gradually picked up the pace in the second ten minutes with leaders Kaselakis making a superb showing. However, Thessalonians were the ones who controlled the game in a first half, favoring Heraklion (32-35).

And the second half started well for Iraklis and mediocre for Panathinaikos. The visitors showed they could break through the green defense and cause problems for the hosts. Garrett and Henry were the biggest threats at a time when Panathinaikos fell victim to their mistakes and player misunderstanding. Macon again took the game to three points for the Greens, with Sant-Ross cutting to one point (43-44) and White putting the hosts ahead. Garrett spoke in the end and leveled the match with a goal at the end of the season (48-48).

The fourth ten minutes clearly belonged to Panathinaikos as the Greens put their foot down and eventually achieved comfortable dominance and strong training ahead of the Greek Cup in Crete.

THE REFEREES: Pitsilkas, Xenikakis, Bakalis

THE TEN MINUTES: 12-18, 32-35, 48-48, 70-58

Panathinaikos (Priftis): Meikon 7 (2/6 two points, 4 assists), Papagiannis 5 (2/6 two points), White 19 (4/6 two points, 10 rebounds), Jovic 4 (2/3 two points, 5 assists), Mantzoukas , Bohoridis 9 (1 three points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), Kavvadas 3, Kaselakis 8 (1), Evans 11 (3/5 two points, 10 rebounds), Sant-Ross 4 (2/6 two Points).

HERCULES (Mexas): Stamatis 10 (2), Henry 12 (3/10 two points, 6 rebounds), Garrett 15 (5/6 two points, 5 rebounds), Filios 4 (2/4 two points), Dolezai 4, Skordilis 5 (1), Charitopoulos 3 (1), Petanidis, Papadakis 5 (1, three points, 5 assists).

Team Stats – Panathinaikos: 19/40 two points, 7/20 three points, 11/17 shots, 40 rebounds (29+11), 19 assists, 10 errors, 7 steals, 3 blocks.

Group Stats – Hercules: 16/37 two points, 5/20 three points, 11/14 shots, 33 rebounds (24+9), 15 assists, 15 errors, 5 steals, 1 block

Team games: The next commitments of the two teams in the championship after the cup-related empty phase of one week apply to the 16th game. Panathinaikos will play against Ionikos (5/3) and Iraklis against PAOK (5/3) in Nice. The hours will be announced in the next period of ESAKE.