By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The champs were back in Berlin where they won the 2024 EuroLeague crown and haven’t lost a beat. Panathinaikos got the 87-77 win against ALBA Berlin, an opponent with moderate goals.
The duo of Kendrick Nunn (16 p.) and Mathias Lessort (14 p. 8 r.) made things happen for the Greeks.
Still, with ALBA making a last effort to cut the lead, Kostas Sloukas (10 p. 5 as.), Juancho Hernangomez (11 p.), and Jerian Grant (10 p.) made key shots.
“Sloukas managed very well the last minutes of the game and we got the first win of the season”, coach Ergin Ataman said after the game. “At this point, the important thing is to get wins, especially on the road. We did it, and that’s important”.
ALBA got 13 points from Will McDowell-White, however, in a game of runs, the Germans were competitive only in the third period and couldn’t avoid a home defeat.
A day in the office for the champs
Panathinaikos led by 10 (17-7) after less than four minutes of action. The first quarter ended with the Greens up by nine (26-17) who kept the same distance on the halftime score (45-36) with Mathias Lessort having 10 points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
ALBA did fight back and after a three by Martin Hermannsson and a two by Matteo Spagnolo made it a two-point game (56-54) completing a 7-0 run. Panathinaikos’ answer was a 6-0 run with a goal foul by Lorenzo Brown and a three by Juancho Hernangomez (62-54) and the third period ended with the score being 62-57 after a three by McDowell-White.
However, the defending champions opened up the last period with a 9-0 run (71-57) setting things straight with Nunn starting it making two back-to-back shots. ALBA trimmed the lead to five (73-68), but Sloukas and Juancho silenced the crowd with back-to-back threes (79-68).
Sloukas and Grant with two more threes (85-75) kept the distance again when ALBA made it a four-point game (79-75).
Ioannis Papapetrou missed the game after suffering a minor foot injury during Wednesday night’s practice and Panathinaikos had 11 available players.