By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
Even though the guests came back in the fourth quarter, Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens enjoyed an important win in OAKA, defeating Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz 80-76
It was all about the frontcourt this time around and especially Kenny Gabriel. Since early on in the game KG showed his intentions scoring 15 first-half points with four three-pointers. It was the best first half he had since arriving in Panathinaikos.
His ‘partner in crime’, James Gist was also impressive down low. He finished with 15 points (6/8 2FG) and five rebounds. Nikos Pappas also affected the game for the winners especially in the second half with his 12 points
Pascual’s team was sharing the ball all night long, finishing with 21 assists.
Baskonia was up early on (18-11) thanks to Voigtmann and Shengelia. Tokko eventually finished with 19 points. Panathinaikos answered with Gabriel’s back to back three-pointers (21-22). It was all about the Greens after that. With Calathes dishing 12 assists in total, Panathinaikos got a 46-40 halftime lead and build a 16 points advantage (67-51).
In the final period, Baskonia went on an 8-0 run with Matt Janning and Rodrigue Beaubois leading the charge and cutting the lead to four points (80-76) but could not complete the comeback.
At the beginning of the game, the players did not line up next to Baskonia’s starting five during the EuroLeague anthem as some fans also showed their support towards Dimitris Giannakopoulos in the conflict with EuroLeague.