PAOKARA with soul, he passed through Bursa and stayed alive for the qualification to his “16”. Basketball Champions League!
In a real thriller that lasted 50 minutes (!), o “two-headed of the north” fought with all his strength and got his biggest – until the next one of course – victory of the season, leaving with the double from “Tofas Spor Salonu” and its headquarters Tofa with a score of 88-87 after two overtimes, in Game 2 of the series of the two teams in the play-ins of the tournament!
Somehow, Fotis Takianos’ team “erased” the break of the first game and the heavy defeat by Turks (63-95), regaining home advantage. Now, everything for the qualification will be judged on Game 3 of the series to be held next year Tuesday (16/01) in Pylaia!
Regarding the match, PAOK was better for the longest period and deserved the victory, in a match where they had many protagonists. The first scorer for the Thessalonians was Fredrikron with 18 points (7 in overtime) and 8 assists, with McNish (17 points, 9 rebounds) and Harrison (17 points, 6 ass.) to follow in performance, at the time where o Chiakmas had one of the best matches of his life with 15 points and 5 big threes at critical points of the match!
For the Turks, they stood out Winston and Denmonwith the former having 22 points and 6 assists and the latter, 20 points and 6 rebounds.
The match:
The start of the match was balanced, and despite the fact that PAOK completed five team fouls from the 3rd minute, succeeded and was close to the score. By McNish dominating the opponent’s racket and scoring 8 quick points, the Thessalonians led 11-10 in the 5th minute, while a little later, with Fridriksson’s second three-pointer of the match, the guests went at 14-12. Somewhere in there, PAOK’s series of mistakes, coupled with their poor defensive returns, resulted in the Turks going on an unanswered 1-0 run to make it +9 and 23-14, before cutting at 23-16 in the period Tsairelis from the shooting line.
In the second quarter the tough defenses and the many missed shots of the two teams dominated, a condition which favored PAOK’s game. Fotis Takianou’s side may have had Tofas’ first shot in the area after 4.5 minutes of play (!), however, he was not on target either, resulting in at -8 (27-19). From the middle of the period onwards, the good and pressing defense of the “two-headed” team bore fruit, with PAOK finding psychology, but also easy baskets in transition. From such situations, the visitors ran a 7-0 run with baskets by McNish and a three-pointer by Tsiakma, reducing on the point (27-26) at 17′. Winston and Denmon found the scores for the home side in the final minute, with PAOK replying with Beliauskas’ three-pointer in the final, going into the dressing room back on the scoresheet by the narrowest of margins for 32-31 at halftime
The good image presented by PAOK in most of the second period continued in the third quarter. With the tough and pressing defense being a “constant”, the “two-headed of the north” also found the much-desired rhythm in the attack that it was looking for in the first half. The two teams exchanged “blows” at the beginning of the third period for 37-37 at 25′. From that point on, came the competitive launch of the “two-headed”, who with his long shot as a weapon built solid foundations for the victory. With three consecutive three-pointers by Tsiakma, Beliauskas and Harrison, PAOK went to +6 (40-46), with Gilmore’s nailing and Tsiakma’s new three-pointer a little later making the difference for the first time at +10 for 51-41 at 29′! The hosts narrowed the lead a bit in the final minute, before Tsiakmas fired home from long range buzzer beater three-pointer to shape it 54-44 of the quarter!
With Harrison’s two well-placed shots for the +12 (44-56) of PAOK, the fourth and last season has started. However, the Thessalonians were not able to protect, but also to preserve this important difference they built, with Tofas making its counterattack and bringing the match to an even level. for 60-60 at 35′. And while the momentum was with the home team, Harrisonin “cold blood”, took the “double-headed” on his back and with four points and one assist on Margaritis’ three-pointer, sent his team to the 67-62 in the 37th minute. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Fredrickson, Homley and O’Brien made it 70-68, before Wiley tied the game. (70-70) at 65” before the finale. PAOK had two chances to win at the end, but Harrison missed two difficult layups, and that’s how the match ended it was taken to overtime.
Naturally, the thriller continued in extra time, with Fredrickson to give PAOK the lead (72-74) with two consecutive baskets. In fact, a little later, the Thessalonikians went to +4 (72-76) from the shots of Beliauskas, two minutes before the end of the extra five minutes. Six collected points by Winston, however, brought Tofas into the lead (78-76), with Harrison to score a big and difficult basket at 23” before the final for in 78-78with the Turks missing the last attack and the match going in second overtime!
Despite the fatigue and wear and tear of the fouls, the players of Fotis Takianos fought with all their strength and were justified! With a big three-pointer by Tsiakmas, PAOK led 83-81 in the middle of the five-minute period, with Schiza shortly after making it 85-84. Denmon tied it from the free throw line, with Fridrickson proving to be a … monster of composure and hitting a three-pointer to make it 85-88 with two minutes left. The Turks reduced to 88-87 in the next phase, with both teams losing consecutive shots in the final and the PAOK to smile at the end getting a great victory!
The quarters: 23-16, 32-31, 44-54, 70-70 k.d., 78-78 a’ par., 87-88 b’par.
See here the statistics of the match.
Source: Sport Fm
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