Panathinaikos edges out Efes to make the Final Four
Panathinaikos held off Efes Anadolu in Game 5 of the Euroleague playoffs to join Olympiakos in the Abu Dhabi Final Four.
The Greens led from start to finish at the Olympic Sports Hall on Tuesday and deservedly won the game 75-67 and the series 3-2, snatching a ticket to the tournament’s showcase for a second season in a row.
Dominating the Turkish team in the first 15 minutes of the game, with the help of the loud 20,000 fans at the stands, the holders led by as many as 23 points (36-13), playing in a rhythm they obviously could not sustain for the entire 40 minutes.
Efes started reducing the difference and even went in the third quarter within just three points, as the long-range shots of Panathinaikos failed it. However the hosts had two players on a great night, namely Cedi Osman and Jerian Grant, who took it upon themselves to keep the Greek team in the lead.
Seeing that in offense they had problems, the hosts kept focusing on defense and managed to keep out the visitors’ best players, on a nervous night for both teams.
Eventually two jump-shots by Grant gave Panathinaikos an unassailable lead into the final minute and the Greeks eased to this sweet victory that has sent them to the May 23-25 Final Four.
Osman made a statement performance with 28 points, followed by Kendrick Nunn with 12 and Grant with 11.
In the semifinal at Abu Dhabi Panathinaikos will face another Istanbul team, Fenerbahce, while Olympiakos will play against Monaco.
Kathimerini
