[ad_1]
With their defense moving at WiZink Center second-half level for nearly the full forty minutes, Panathinaikos OPAP forced Valencia to play the role of accomplice at OAKA.
ADVERTISING
The greens dominated in defense, and with an aggressive pluralism (everyone gave something), they won (91-72) in the 23rd match of the Euroleague, while improving their psychology, a week before the derby with Olympiakos in the SEF.
At the same time, the Naranjas reached six losses in the last seven games, without stopping the decline of the last two months that has taken them away from the top eight.
The MVP
The return of George Papagiannis changed the defense of the Panathinaikos OPAP, basically in the air. The 23-year-old center was dominant, had no problems with either Mike Tobey or Bojan Dubljevic and showed for the umpteenth time how important he is to the overall functioning of the club at the back of the field. In the 20’36 ” of participation he was close to double double (8 points with 4/5 two points and 9 rebounds).
However, he can only share the MVP title with his front-line alter ego, Dino Mitoglou, who had 11 points (with 5/10 two points and 1/2 shots), 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. in 23’58 ” of participation. The two are at the peak of their performance (simultaneously) for the first time this year, something that is only good for the later course of the greens.
THE WEAK LINK
Bojan Dubljevic is a key factor in Valencia’s progress (and) in this year’s tournament. So the fact that he finished with 4 points (of 2/5 two points and 0/1 three points), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 errors and 1 block in 21’59 ” of participation did not give much margin to the Spanish team to claim victory. He was out of rhythm from a very young age, something that made him very nervous, to the point of accepting a technical penalty in the third ten minutes, when he started the … French to the referees for an aggressive foul against him.
THE STATISTICS THAT stood out
Panathinaikos OPAP dominated on rebounds, despite having a very strong team up front and center against them. The greens finished with +12 rebounds (39 against 27) in relation to Valencia, with the 13 forwards (at a time when the Spanish team had 17 defenders) being indicative of the situation and how much they pressured Jaume Ponsarnau’s players in the air.
THE RACE
Panathinaikos OPAP started the game well, mainly because in their defense they had concentration and intensity. The greens put together good defenses and with Giorgos Papagiannis finishing one phase after another, they quickly reached +10 (20-10 in 7 ‘). At the end of the first period, however, Valencia found a way to react and with Martin Hermanson in the lead role, he closed the gap between the two (22-20).
Oded Katas was constantly shuffling the deck, opening the rotation, but the quality of the defense did not drop to a minimum. Even when Ben Bentley coexisted with Jacques August on the front line. The clover stepped on the accelerator, found points collected from the expatriate center and reached +16 (48-32 in 18 ‘), showing that he has the first reason for victory.
Clement Prepelic’s dynamic start to the third quarter (he scored 10 points in 5 minutes) helped Valencia recover. Jaume Ponsarnau’s players cheered up watching their main duo score in bursts and reduced to twelve (57-45 in 25 ‘), forcing Odette Katas to call a time-out.
The clover wasn’t equally consistent on both sides of the court, losing one defensive rebound after another, but in each case it found ways to score and stay at a safe distance. And when the percentages of guests fell to three points, the difference rose again, for +18 (68-50) in minute 30.
It hasn’t been easy to change anything lately. Not because Valencia didn’t try, but because Panathinaikos OPAP didn’t give them the slightest right. Lefteris Bohoridis justified – and with the above – every second he took advantage of, he offered a lot in defense and attack and was an important factor in the rotation of the shorts, until the victory of the clover (91-72), a week before the game. meeting with Olympiakos at SEF.
Referees: Latisevs – Pastusiak – Panter.
The ten minutes: 22-20, 48-34, 68-52, 91-72.
PANATHINAIKOS OPAP (Katas): Mac 4 (0/3 three points), Papagiannis 8 (9 rebounds, 2 blocks), Bohoridis 12 (2 three points, 5 assists), August 8 (4/5 two points), Papapetrou 9 (1), Kaselakis 2 , Kalaitzakis 2, Foster (0/3 shots), Nedovic 16 (2/2 two points, 2/11 three points, 6/7 shots, 7 assists), White 12 (5 rebounds), Mitoglou 11 (5/10 two points), 1/2 shots, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Bentil 7 (1).
VALENCIA (Ponsarnau): Marinkovic 11 (3/8 triples), Prepelic 20 (3/8 triples), Puerto, Labeiri 3 (0/4 triples, 3/4 shots), Van Rosom 3, Tobey 9 (1 triple pointer, 5 rebounds), Kalinic 6 (1), Dubljevic 4 (5 rebounds, 3 assists), San Emeterio, Williams 3 (1), Hermanson 13 (1).
Team Statistics – Panathinaikos OPAP: 27/42 two points, 6/21 three points, 19/25 shots, 39 rebounds (26 + 13), 23 assists, 9 steals, 13 errors, 2 blocks.
Group Stats – Valencia: 13/30 two points, 10/28 three points, 16/20 shots, 27 rebounds (17 + 10), 19 assists, 5 steals, 14 errors, 5 blocks.
The next obligations of the two teams: Next week, Panathinaikos OPAP has the great derby with Olympiakos in SEF (5/2, 9:00 p.m.), while Valencia returns to Fonteta to face CSKA Moscow (4/2, 22:00).
Photo credits: Eurokinissi
[ad_2]
