He played with… fire, but Panathinaikos did not burn!

THE Panathinaikos τα found … dark for just over 35 minutes against the fighter Herculeshowever in the end the quality and the experience spoke, with the “greens” prevailing 70-58 in OAKA, in a postponed match of the Stoiximan Basket League.

With the … mind in the Final 4 of the Greek Cup, the team of Dimitris Priftis was back in the score for most of the match, with “Giraios” reaching the difference even at +11. In the last period, however, the “clover” became serious and starring Okaro White reached the 12th pink card of the season.

The 29-year-old American forward of Panathinaikos finished the game with 19 points and 10 rebounds, with Evans (11 points, 10 rebounds), Bohoridis (9 points) and Kaselaki (8 points) to follow in odds. Nikos Hougaz, on the other hand, did not play in the match.

For Hercules, who may have suffered the fourth defeat in a row but won the impressionsthe Garrett (15 points, 5 rebounds) and Henry (12 points, 6 rebounds). However, the Thessalonians are on … burning coals regarding him serious injury of Kostas Papadakis, who left in the middle of the fourth period with a problem in his left knee.

The match



Hercules came in very strong in the first ten minutes, shocking him sluggish and extremely misplaced Panathinaikos. The “greens” were ahead 3-0 in the first minute of the match with an equal number of points by Papagiannis. But then, the Mike Henry took the guests by the hand and with six points helped his team to run a series of 13-1 for +9 and 13-4 in 5 ‘.

Bohoridis and Kaselakis found some easy points in the last four minutes and “detached” Panathinaikos in the attack, with the ten minutes still finding the hosts back to the score with 18-12.

In fact, the two Greek players were those who with personal baskets reduced the difference to the minimum value of the difference at the beginning of the second period (17-18 in 12 ‘). The “Old Man”, however, not only did not stress, on the contrary he “answered” with his own outburst, and clicking on “painted” the lazy defense of the “greens” shot the difference for the first time at +10 (21-31 at 16 ‘).

Dimitris Priftis’ “throttles” from the bench for the bad image of Panathinaikos took place in the last part of the half, with the hosts running a series of 9-0 (30-31), closing the first part at -3 and 35-32.

The second half started with Iraklis entering concentratedbut also passionate on the floor of the Olympic facilities, very reminiscent of the beginning of the first part. THE good defense of the Mexa team, combined with the many and easy mistakes of Panathinaikos, allowed the visitors to run a small 7-2 run in the first four minutes of the third period for +8 (34-42).

The hosts in turn had an unimaginable difficulty finding rhythm and imposing their game, appearing trapped in defense and attack. All this, however, until the last three minutes of the quarter, where the Kaselakis and Saint-Ross with nice actions on both sides of the floor helped Panathinaikos to run a 10-4 series, with the ten minutes ending in absolute balance (48-48).

The good closing of the third period, gave the psychological impetus that Panathinaikos was looking for from the beginning of the match. By Okaro White to come out ahead and lead the scoring with six points, the “greens” found ten unanswered points for 58-48 in 33 ‘.

Hercules reacted and within a minute reduced the difference to three points (58-53), before White and Evans arrive and with big shots send the difference at +13 (68-55)for the final 70-58.

The quarters: 12-18, 32-35, 48-48, 70-58.

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