By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It wasn’t pretty, however, it was the first win of Panathinaikos after losing both openers in the EuroLeague and the Greek League. The Greens got the 77-75 win against Crvena Zvezda on the road, as coach Dejan Radonjic returned to Belgrade as the coach of the guests.
The Lithuanian duo of Marius Grigonis (17 p.) and Arturas Gudaitis (12 p.) led the way for Panathinaikos with Marcel Ponitka adding 10 points and the biggest steal of the game.
“I am happy because this is my first official win with Panathinaikos and I hope we are back on track”, Grigonis admitted.
Former Panathinaikos player Ben Bentil with 18 points was the top scorer of the hosts, followed by former Olympiacos center Hassan Martin with 12.
“This is one of the hardest courts in Europe and I am happy we got the win”, said Gudaitis.
The game was close from wire to wire with the largest lead being six points for either side. To be exact, the hosts led by six after the first quarter (24-18), the guests got up by four at halftime (42-38) and by six (46-40) a bit later, but they had a one-point advantage after the end of the third (57-56).
With 1.27′ left the score was tied at 73 and turned into a dogfight with Ponitka stealing the ball and giving Panathinaikos a 75-73 advantage just 21 seconds before the final buzzer.
John Holland missed a three for Zvezda, still Bentil got the offensive rebound and got fouled. With 6.9 seconds on the clock, he missed the first free throw and made the second (75-74). Paris Lee was fouled, made his free throws (77-74) and Andrew Andrews made a smart foul with 1.8 seconds left, sending Ognen Dobric on the line.
As Zvezda’s coach Vladimir Jovanovic said: “We had our chance but in the crucial moments we missed many open shots and lost some very important balls. The turnovers decided the game in the end”.
The Serb missed the second free throw on purpose, Derrick Williams got the rebounds for Panathinaikos and the game was over as the Greek got their first win in the EuroLeague season while Zvezda is left at 0-2.
“As I said before the game we are still at the beginning and one decision decided the outcome, I am happy for my players and it was great to be back”, added coach Radonjic.