By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In an eventful match at the OAKA Arena, Alba Berlin defeats Panathinaikos after the turnaround in the last minute, 88-84.
Maodo Lo scored crucial four points in the final 60 seconds, for 13 in total, but Jaleen Smith was the top scorer in the German champions’ 10th win of the season, with 14 points.
“They started making crazy shots; Bacon started getting them going. And when he gets going it’s pretty tough to stop them. We’re always playing free. Coach always says to play fast. I think we did a good job today. That was the model for today, play fast and play free,” Smith said.
Johannes Thiemann added 11 points, while Yovel Zoosman had ten.
“We were just able to make some plays at the end. Fortunately, they went our way. We were able to get the lead at the end of the game and that gave us the chance to win. I think we were executing well at the end and we were sharp, and that helped,” Lo said after the match.
Dwayne Bacon scored 16 for Panathinaikos after a brilliant third quarter with 13 points but missed the game-winning shot in the dying moments.
Marius Grigonis followed him with 15 points, Georgios Papagiannis was a rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points, while Paris Lee added 12.
A sweep for ALBA
That was the second defeat of Panathinaikos by ALBA this season. Panathinaikos still has a slightly better record (11-22 vs 10-23), still at home the Greens wanted more.
“We didn’t manage very well some differences. Again, they scored a lot of transition points because we controlled the game in five-on-five situations. But they scored some open shots and some layups, and I think this was the most difficult part of our game,” Panathinaikos head coach Christos Serelis stated.
ALBA opened the game with a 12-2 run and took control in the early stages. The guests had a maximum 14-point lead in the second quarter, but Panathinaikos reacted in the final moments. Still, ALBA went to the break with a 49-42 lead.
Bacon erupted in the third period and led the comeback of PAO with 13 points, as the Greens took the 68-66 lead before the final 10 minutes. The hosts had the advantage for most of the fourth quarter but ALBA remained calm. Lo turned things around, Bacon missed with two seconds left, and Yanni Wetzell ended Panathinaikos’ hopes from the free throw line.
“I think our mental approach made the difference. Maodo, for example, was missing a lot of shots, but in the end he took the responsibility. We played again with good effort, like a team, passing the ball. And I congratulate the players because we are playing better and finishing the season well,” coach Israel Gonzales noted.