By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos OPAP Athens started the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season on a high note, with an 89-84 win over Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv at OAKA.
Nick Calathes’ amazing performance, Matt Lojeski’s clutch shots and Panathinaikos‘ fourth-quarter pretty much sums up the night. The 29-year old point-guard was on another level Thursday night, as he facilitated Panathinaikos’ offense with 14 assists while scoring eight points and leading his team to the first win of the season. Lojeski’s 20 points (8/10FG), a career-high with PAO, and clutch shots also played a crucial role for the Greek champs.
Meanwhile, for the losing side, 2018 7DAYS EuroCup champ Scottie Wilbekin filled up the box score with 24 points and eight assists.“We gave him the opportunity to take some open shots, and when you compete against this kind of a player, it’s unacceptable to make these mistakes,” said Panathinaikos’ head coach, Xavi Pascual after the game.
The backcourt duo of Calathes and Langford were showing off early on, as the home team went on a 15-4 run, but the visitors responded perfectly with a 0-10 run of their own (15-14), thanks to Wilbekin’s electric start. The second quarter was close, and at the half, Panathinaikos was up by one point, 46-45.
After 30′, ‘Pana’ was up by three points (70-67), and so the final quarter was the decisive one. With five minutes on the clock, Xavi Pascual’s team increased this lead to double-digits, with Lojeski scoring (82-71) and the Israeli champions could not respond.
“We didn’t take care of the ball, we had 18 turnovers, we gave them too many cheap baskets, and we had an issue with playmaking because we were missing one of our point guards,” said Maccabi coach Neven Spahija referring to Jeremy Pargo who was a last minute absence from the game and he added: “It was a great game with great officiating and great ambiance. I hope that the next time there will not be any protective screens behind the bench, cause we don’t need them.”
Former Portland big man, Giorgos Papagiannis was not included in Panathinaikos active roster for the game.
For more EuroLeague news, click here!
Photo credit: EuroLeague