By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos OPAP featuring ten players getting on the board and extra size got back on the win column by defeating FC Bayern Munich, 83-76, at home in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 11 action Friday evening.
Defensive aces Howard Sant-Roos and Ioannis Papapetrou were effective on both ends combining for 26 points, 14 and 12 respectively. Nemanja Nedovic went up to a team-high 17 points, including eight in the final period, also produced six assists and three steals. Center Georgios Papagiannis added 12 more points.
“It feels good to finally add stats to my game, add stats to the team,” said Sant-Roos, “I know we say a lot about our defense mentality but to be all-around is still good.”
“Bayern is in great shape and we held them to 76 points, so I think that says we did a good job tonight,” argued Nedovic following the contest, “It’s not something I’m used to, but I think I have the capability to play defense.”
The team guided by Georgios Vovoras leading for most of the way got key defensive stops down the stretch to secure the “W”. A much-needed home win, to say the least.
“We played very well defensively; it was a totally different picture,” pointed out Vovoras, “We kept the focus for the 40 minutes because they are a very good team and you need to play very well against a good team. I think that for the whole game, for the 40 minutes as a total, we had the persistence we needed in order to win this match, especially when you have to compete against a team like Bayern, who didn’t have the same pressure we had.”
The Greens after four losses in a row jumped to 3-6. Upcoming fixtures bring them to France to battle LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Tuesday next Tuesday and to Italy to face AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan Thursday.
This was the fourth defeat in as many away games versus Panathinaikos for the German club. Vladimir Lucic producing a game-high 20 points did not make the cut.
Andrea Trinchieri’s side dropped to 7-4. Off two straight losses, Khimki Moscow Region next Friday is up next.
“They played harder, with more energy, they deserved to win,” confessed the Bayern boss, “We didn’t match their energy and that cost us three very bad quarters. In the end, we found the way as usual to compete and to get back in the game, making it a one-possession game, but we made three critical, crucial, terrible mistakes on defense and that cost us the win.”
Marcus Foster was out for the winning side. The opponents missed Nihad Dedovic and JaJuan Johnson.