By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos OPAP Athens defeated Buducnost VOLI in Podgorica 67 – 72, in what was a tough game, and reached its third win this season (3-2). Meanwhile, the Montenegrin side fell to a 0-5 record.
The contest was decided in the final period. With nine minutes on the clock, the visitors had a one-point lead (49-50), but with back-to-back three-pointers, their lead increased to seven points (49-56). With Thomas’ fourth three-pointer and Nikos Pappas’ dunk, Xavi Pascual’s team went up ahead by double-digits (53-65) to complete a great run in the fourth quarter and eventually win the game. The hosts tried to spark a comeback (67-71), but it was too late to turn the game around.
“It was a tough game, but I think we played better than what the score showed. We were not effective in free-throws, three-pointers. In the second half when we scored the two consecutive three-pointers we took an important advantage to win the game,” said Panathinaikos’ head coach, Xavi Pascual.
DeShaun Thomas led the way for Panathinaikos as he finished with 14 points (4/5 3FG), while Ioannis Papapetrou added 13. For the losing side, Alen Omic posted a double-double of 16 points and ten rebounds.
In the first three quarters, the game was competitive and physical. After 10′, the visitors had a slight edge (15-18) as Nick Calathes was orchestrating the offense. Thomas’ back-to-back three-pointers to start the second quarter, put ‘Pana’ up by nine points (15-24), but Buducnost responded perfectly with Alen Omic’s offensive show and tied the game to end the first half (31-31).
The teams were going back and forth in the third quarter as Calathes and Earl Clark were exchanging buckets, and so after thirty minutes, the contest was close (47-50).
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