The Greek final of the 8th “P. Giannakopoulos” tournament turned out to be a real thriller! The approximately 15,000 fans at the “Telekom Center” had the chance to watch an amazing game, with Panathinaikos prevailing 87-81 over PAOK in the final!
The “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” demonstrated just how much its new… version has improved, as it gave the “Greens” a very tough time and fought tooth and nail for the win. In the end, Zeljko Obradović’s team displayed a level of self-sacrifice that was anything but typical of a friendly match, ultimately securing a thrilling victory in the closing moments.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Countdown to the Panathinaikos derby
Panathinaikos’ leading scorer was Silven Francisco with 17 points. Matías Lesor recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds, Branko Badio, who was decisive in the final moments, scored 12 points, and Isaac Bonga added 14 points and 8 rebounds. Lefteris Mantzoukas made a significant contribution with 10 points and 6 rebounds.
For PAOK, Jedi Osman recorded 16 points and 7 rebounds, earning a standing ovation from the Panathinaikos fans. Marcus Foster scored 15 points, Ben Moore added 10 points and 6 rebounds, and Trevor Hagin scored 11 points and dished out 6 assists.
Now, both teams are turning their attention to the start of their official season. Panathinaikos will host Paris at the “Telekom Center” for the first round of the EuroLeague on Thursday (September 24, 9:15 p.m.), while the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” kicks off its season with the Greek Super Cup semifinal against the “Greens” (September 26, 9:00 p.m.) in Peristeri.
Quarter scores: 19-21, 43-41, 61-60, 87-81.
*photo source: KYPE
