Panathinaikos – Erythros Asteras 79-73: Prestige victory against all problems

Panathinaikos OPAP had a thousand excuses for the Red Star game. The disappointment of losing the cup, the many and important absences (Ioannis Papapetrou, Stefan Jovic, Okaro White, George Papagiannis). However, he did not stay in them, he entered the OAKA parquet with determination and willingness to fight to the end, which in the end justified him after beating the Red Star (79-73) in the 27th game of the EuroLeague.

The Greens never left the Reds and Whites alone, with Nemanja Nedovic taking the lead again and Vassilis Kavvadas delivering one of the best performances of his career, leaving the Serbian defense with an unresolved problem near the goal.

In the highlights of the game was, firstly, the fact that George Papagiannis went from Ethniki to OAKA to play right after the game (the response of the trefoil technical staff was obvious) and secondly, the debut of Nikos Hougaz with the green jersey.

The MVP

Nemanja Nedovic was once again the leader of Panathinaikos OPAP, but the one who did a little more for the win to come was Vassilis Kavvadas. The international center with the very small role in the rotation stepped onto the OAKA floor, ready to get the job done. When it happened. Used in the 20’08”, he offered 17 points (at 8/10 two points and 1/1 shot), 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 errors.

The weak link

Stefan Markovic is a shadow of himself this year, he essentially has nothing to offer as he has become a few-minute player in the change. In OAKA, he stayed on the ground for 9’28” without scoring (0/1, two points), giving only 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 error.

The stat that stood out

Panathinaikos OPAP had a big problem in defensive rebound, with the Red Star collecting 15 forwards in the forty minutes. Still, the Greens won with 66.7% two-pointer counterweight and 19 assists.

The race

The beans were measured by definition for Panathinaikos OPAP, who had a mountain to climb in the Red Star game. The visitors took advantage of the home team’s lack of energy in the opening minutes, with Austin Hollins and Luka Mitrovic causing the most damage to Dejan Radonic’s team’s +9 (17-26 in 11′). Gradually, however, the Greens improved and took things off their bench, with Lefteris Mantzoukas and Vassilis Kavvadas doing a great job. The two gave them easy points in attack and put Panathinaikos OPAP within range (27:28 in 15′), allowing Nemanja Nedovic to take the baton from the spot and take the cloverleaf lead thanks to Dreier-He reached from the logo in OAKA, almost with the expiry of the first part (42-41).

Red Star was the team that started the game more dynamically after the break. After Aaron White cleared the air and the rest scored consistently, Dejan Radonjic’s side managed to keep the Greens at +9 (48-57) for almost three minutes without a point in the 27th minute of the game. However, thanks to Nemanja Nedovic and Vassilis Kavvadas, Panathinaikos OPAP recovered very quickly. The two scored consecutive baskets and within two minutes the Greens managed to stop play and go +1 (58-57) just before the end of the third period.

From there everything changed from cast to cast as the two teams ran small series but could not fully impose their rhythm. The Red Star saw Aaron White continue to collect offensive rebound after offensive rebound, Nate Walters took a step forward, it was Panathinaikos OPAP who, however, entered the home stretch and took the lead thanks to a lead (71-69 in 38′). Three Pointers by Howard Sand Ross.

That’s it. The flow never receded, with Nemanja Nedovic being exemplary both as a creator (for Vassilis Kavvadas) and as a performer. The 31-year-old warden did whatever it took to keep Panathinaikos OPAP at the top right to the end and claim a victory that many didn’t expect given the Greek team’s many struggles.

THE REFEREES: Sacrifice – Panther – Semes.

THE TEN MINUTES: 17-23, 42-41, 59-59, 79-73.

PANATHINAIKUS OPAP (Priftis): Meikon 7 (2/6 shots, 3/4 shots, 5 assists), Bohoridis 2, Kavvadas 17 (8/10 two points, 1/1 shot, 6 rebounds), Kaselakis 5 (5 rebounds, 2 assists ). ), Nedovic 25 (4/5 two points, 4/7 three points, 5/6 shots, 5 assists, 5 errors), Hugaz 2 (0/2 shots, 2/2 shots, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Evans 8 (9 rebounds), Mantzoukas 5 (1), Sant Ross 8 (2).

Red Star (Radonic): Walters 10 (1), Davidovic 2 (4 rebounds), Mitrovic 10 (4/5, two points, 2/2 shots), Lazic 2 (0/3, three points), Kalinic 12 (4/9 , two points). , 0/5 threes, 4/5 shots, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 errors), Dobrich 8 (2), Hollins 13 (3/6 threes), Ivanovic 2, Markovic, White 14 (1 threes). -Pointers, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), kuzmits.

Team Stats – Panathinaikos OPAP: 22/33 two points, 7/20 three points, 14/19 shots, 28 rebounds (24 defense + 4 offense), 19 assists, 2 steals, 12 errors, 2 blocks.

Group Stats – Red Star: 18/37 two points, 7/27 three points, 16/25 shots, 35 rebounds (20 defensive + 15 offensive), 16 assists, 7 steals, 9 errors, 1 block.

The next commitments of the two teams: Panathinaikos OPAP have a hell of a week in the coming days after they faced Zalgiris (1/3) and Armani Milano (4/3) in OAKA, while Red Star returns to Belgrade to face Baskonia (3/3). .