Fourth win in four for PAO
Panathinaikos basketball club scored a crucial away win in Turkey for the Euroleague’s second group stage last night, overcoming Efes Pilsen 79-65 in Istanbul and maintaining its undefeated status in this phase. Aris Thessaloniki, on the other hand, lost by just two points in Moscow to local powerhouse Dynamo 71-69 and said goodbye to any qualification hopes it may have harbored. For Panathinaikos a win in Turkey yesterday was key to staying on top of group F, ahead of Barcelona, which also emerged victorious from its away game in Poland, beating Prokom Sopot 77-59. The Greeks got off to a slow start in the game, with Efes dominating scoring and ending the first period ahead by five (20-15). Soon, though, Panathinaikos found its footing and put more pressure on the hosts, evening the score at halftime (35-35). Panathinaikos began the second half as the stronger side and saw its shooting improve. Although Efes was always within range of a win (55-55 at the end of the third period), the team could not overpower Zelimir Obradovic’s men, who finished off the contest in the last period. The Greeks silenced the crowd with a 10-point lead, stretched in the end to 14 points through an impressive Nikos Hatzivrettas dunk. With 10 points and nine rebounds, Costas Tsartsaris was the best player for Panathinaikos, along with Lithuanian star Ramunas Siskauskas, who registered 14 points, including three crucial three-pointers. The top scorer for Panathinaikos was Sani Becirovic, with 16 points. Efes Pilsen, which has lost all four games at this group stage, got most of its points from Andrew Nicholas (21), Marcus Haislip (14) and Ermal Kuqo (10). Panathinaikos now has two games left and if it does not lose by more than 20 points in Barcelona on March 21, it will finish at the top of its group, enjoying a home advantage in the best-of-three quarterfinal series. Heartbreak for Aris Despite its brave game away from home, Aris returned to Thessaloniki with just another good away performance, as it lost to Dynamo, which relied mostly on its two Greek players and their impressive double-double figures. Antonis Fotsis’s 28 points and 10 rebounds, along with Lazaros Papadopoulos’s 11 points and 10 rebounds, ensured that the Russian side maintained its quest for the group’s top spot, although it came so close to defeat at the hands of Aris. The Thessaloniki club, in one of its best performances on the road, played excellently in the middle of the game, finishing halftime level at 38-38, despite trailing at first. In the third period Aris grabbed an eight-point lead thanks to its impressive defense, but six points in a row by Dynamo brought it close again. Aris had several missed shots in the end and Dynamo took a five-point lead, with Terrel Castle sinking a three-pointer at the end to seal the scoring. Alex Scales scored 25 points for Aris, followed by Castle with 12. Michael Wilkinson and Jeremiah Massey got 10 each for Aris. Once again, the Greek players of Dynamo scored more points (38) than the Greeks of Aris (12). After four games Aris has no wins and travels to Italy next to face Benetton Treviso, while Dynamo travels to Malaga. Win for Panionios In the FIBA Eurocup quarterfinals, the third-biggest club competition in Europe, Panionios downed Spain’s Akasvayu Girona 82-69 at home and leveled the series 1-1, following the Catalan side’s home win on Tuesday (76-68). Next Wednesday the winner of the best-of-three series will be decided at the third game to be played in Girona. The Spanish began the game on top at the Hellenikon sports hall in Athens and maintained their lead for most of the game, causing problems for the Greeks’ frontline and getting more help from their substitutes. Girona led by four at the end of the first period (12-16) and by six at halftime (33-39). Panionios improved its shooting in the second half, though, led by Kennedy Winston, who had a terrific game. The team closed the gap at the end of the third period (51-54), gaining the lead early in the fourth with nine unanswered points (60-57). Top scorers for Panionios were Kennedy Winston with 20, followed by Dragan Dojcin with 18 and Andre Hutson with 15. Marvin Thornton got 14 points for Akasvayu.
