By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
On the back of a splendid 6 – 24 first period, Panathinaikos outplayed Baskonia 63 – 72 in Vitoria, despite blowing a 20-point lead and took a victorious results that brings them closer to the Top 4 of the standings.
Thanks to Chris Singleton’s 18 points/8 rebounds, James Gist’ 11 and 5 rebounds plus Mike James’ 11 points and key baskets in the final stretch, the Greens are now tied with Fenerbahce at a 17 – 11 record. They have a more than serious chance of finishing the regular season higher than the Turkish squad and get a homecourt advantage in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, Baskonia now stands at 16 – 12 and needs a 2/2 in the upcoming matches to have a mathematical hope of finishing at the fourth spot. Adam Hanga finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds, Johannes Voigtmann had 12 plus 7 rebounds and Chase Budinger 11. None of them enough to help their team fully recover after a horrendous entrance.
The Basques went in the clash vs Panathinaikos quite sloppy, failing to move the ball well and being completely lock down by their opponents’ suffocating defense. They kept struggling falling 31 – 51 near the end of the third period.
Some continuous turnovers by the guests gave Sito Alonso’s players a chance to fight back. They grabbed the opportunity, cutting their deficit to single digits, 47 – 56 in the mid of the fourth quarter. Yet Panathinaikos managed to preserve an advantage since Baskonia players were not turnover free themselves and lacked the consistency to accomplish a complete comeback.