GRE/ESP - Panathinaikos reach title game as defense strangles Tau

ATHENS (Euroleague Final Four) – The suffocating defense of Panathinaikos propelled the Greek giants past Tau Ceramica on Friday night and into a Euroleague Final showdown with CSKA Moscow.

Zeljko Obradovic’s men set the tone early, limiting to Tau to just nine first-quarter points, and ultimately prevailed 67-53.

Despite the presence of Argentina superstar Luis Scola and Brazilian sensation Tiago Splitter, the Spanish team did very little against the Greens who are now just one win away from their fourth Euroleague title and first since 2002.

CSKA, the defending champions who have Greek national team star Theo Papaloukas in their star-studded ranks, are looking for their sixth crown in the elite European club competition but only their second in the modern era.

“We played good defense for three quarters,” said Pana’s Slovenian point guard Sani Becirovic.

“Perhaps in the last quarter, we relaxed – but we never lost our composure. I think the final is going to be a tough, tough game. The team that plays the best defense will be the team that goes on to win the Euroleague.”

The Euroleague hosts also got their noses in front early thanks to their accuracy from long range.

In the first half, they made six of 12 (50%) from the arc, while Tau were a mere one of nine (11%).

Five different players hit three-pointers in the first half for Panathinaikos.

Additionally, Panathinaikos forced Tau to turn the ball over 12 times in the opening 20 minutes, while committing just six turnovers themselves.

Obradovic said: “It was a very difficult team we played. We talked about the importance of stopping their transition game.

“We prepared to play important defense against the most important players of Tau.”

One of those players, Serbian guard Igor Rakocevic – a player who suited up under Obradovic when he coached the Serbia & Montenegro national side at the Athens Olympics three years ago – was just one of six (17%) from the field.

Another was Luis Scola, who had just six points on two of five (40%) shooting from the floor.
Panathinaikos were in control for just over three quarters, and the game looked all but over when Michael Batiste dunked early in the final period to give the hosts a 53-37 lead.

But Tau refused to quit, showing great fight to reel off 10 consecutive points to trail 53-47 and set up a thrilling finish.

Pablo Prigioni started the spurt with a three-pointer, and Serkan Erdogan finished it with a three-ball.

Obradovic called a timeout, and when play resumed, Panathinaikos’ Batiste was fouled by Scola and made one of two at the line.

Tau went to the other end and Erdogan was flattened by an out-of-control Dimitrios Diamantidis in the corner.

The Turkish marksman argued that he was shooting and deserved three free throws, but his appeal was turned down.

Scola was called for his fifth foul on the ensuing inbounds play while setting a screen and left the floor complaining vehemently.

Tau managed to cut the deficit to just six on two more occasions, but would get no closer.

Panathinaikos got 15 points apiece from Batiste and Becirovic, while Tau had only Erdogan in double figures with 11.

“We’ve had a bad night,” said Tau coach Bozidar Maljkovic. “We haven’t seen the best Tau. From the beginning, we made crucial errors. We were slow on defense, we were out of position while on offense, we turned the ball over a lot and played without logic.

“You cannot miss 10 free throws against a great team like Panathinaikos who have quality. They make you pay for it.

“We never seemed to play with calmness.”

Panathinaikos were just four of 12 (33%) from the floor in the final quarter, but did hit 11 of 12 (92%) shots at the line.

On the night, they were 23 of 30 (77%) at the charity stripe, while Tau struggled, making just 13 of 23 (57%), including four of eight (50%) in the last quarter.

From the floor, Tau were 18 of 57 (32%) for the game, including 14 of 33 (42%) inside the arc, and four of 24 (17%) beyond it.

Tau’s Freddie had a nightmare performance, missing all 11 of his shots from the field.

“I don’t have a number three (small forward) player,” Maljkovic said, when asked why House had played 25 minutes.

“All I have is number ones and number fives, so because of his strong body, Freddie House is able to defend a big guy. That is why he played more minutes. “

House is 1.93m in height.

Obradovic said of the final: “I know we can play better on offense. I will speak to my players because we need to be faster when attacking.”

Jeff Taylor, Athens
FIBA