Panathinaikos – Ionian 102-70: The commitment came out before Devil’s Week

Panathinaikos didn’t stand a chance of being pressed by Ionikos, who was crushed in the 14th game of the Basket League in OAKA (102-70).

The greens took an early lead that made it clear who would take the win, with Dejan Radonić taking the opportunity to rest the ‘fundamentals’ and Alexandros Samonturov (22’37”) and Neoklis Avdala (12 “36”).

The race

From the 5th minute, Panathinaikos dominated the OAKA floor, with Dwayne Bacon and Nate Walters playing big roles. Panathinaikos’ +3 (9-6 in 5′) turned into +18 (28-10) at the end of the first period, with Dejan Radonić’s players being versatile in attack but also excellent percentages in two-point scoring (5 /8 ) and three-pointers (4/10). At the same time, Ionikos couldn’t do the basics (4/19 shots and 4 misses), which makes him uncompetitive.

With the winner essentially decided in the first half, Dejan Radonic took the opportunity to open the rotation wide, with Aleksandr Samonturov and Neoklis Avdala getting game time early on. The 18-year-old forward even scored for the first time in the Basket League against kids, witnessing the apotheosis of the people who were at OAKA on the evening of Jan. 28. Despite the weak three-point quota (5/18), the first part even ended with +25 (55-30) for the home side.

From then on there was no particular competitive interest, except for the young players of the two teams. Nikos Hougaz also had his chance (in the centre), with Panathinaikos seeing each of the eleven available players score. At the same time, Ionikos clearly didn’t care for this particular match, just being patient until it was over and OAKA’s torment was over.

THE REFEREES: Tsolakos – Konstantinidou – Liotsios.

THE DECADES: 28-10, 55-30, 85-45, 102-70.

PANATHINAICOS (Randonics): P. Kalaitzakis 11 (1/4 threes, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Walters 8 (4 rebounds, 5 assists), Williams 5 (1/4 threes), Bacon 15 (2/2 two-pointers, 3/8 3-pointers, 2/2 shots, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Gudaitis 8 (6 rebounds), Lee 6 (1/7 3-pointers, 4 steals), Papagiannis 21 (6/7 2-pointers, 2/3 3-pointers, 3/3 shots, 7 rebounds), G. Kalaitzakis 11 (1), Samonturov 5 (1), Avdalas 5, Hugaz 7 (1).

IONIC (Lebanon): Simmons 6 (1/4 trebles, 4 assists, 4 turnovers), Arsenopoulos 5 (1/7 trebles, 4 rebounds), Mavrokephalidis 23 (5/11 twos, 3/5 trebles). Pointer, 4/4 shots, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 errors), Hawkins 2 (1/8 shots, 8 rebounds, 4 errors), Lacey 5 (1/6 shots, 3 assists), Bebis, Castillo 10 (5 rebounds), Petanidis, Korkontzelos 2, Mantzaris 6 (1), Parks 11 (5/9 2-pointers, 1/1 shot, 6 rebounds).

Panathinaikos team statistics: 24/37 2-pointers, 11/32 3-pointers, 21/31 shots, 43 rebounds (32 defense + 11 offense), 20 assists, 11 turnovers, 13 steals, 3 blocks.

Ionian’s team stats: 18/37 2-pointers, 7/29 3-pointers, 13/13 shots, 33 rebounds (26 defense + 7 offense), 16 assists, 20 turnovers, 7 steals, 3 blocks.

The next games of the two teams: After Devil’s Week in EuroLeague (Real Madrid and Baskonia on Spanish soil), Panathinaikos travels to Rhodes to face Kolossos. For his part, Ionikos plays a crucial home game against PAOK.