Panathinaikos BC AKTOR defeated Iraklis 91-61 in the second semifinal of the Allwyn Final 8. T.J. Shorts was the leading scorer for the Greens with 13 points.

The Greens entered the game strongly, taking a 7-2 lead in the 3rd minute and extending it to 11-2 in the 5th. One minute later, Panathinaikos BC AKTOR reached its first double-digit advantage (13-2), stretching it to +15 (17-2) in the 7th minute, completing a 15-0 run up to that point. The first quarter ended 22-7.

In the 14th minute, Iraklis cut the deficit to single digits (28-19), but Panathinaikos BC AKTOR responded immediately, pushing the lead to +13 (36-19) a minute later and to +20 (44-24) in the 19th minute. The first half closed at 46-26.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR increased the margin to +25 at 51-26 in the 22nd minute and never took their foot off the gas. As a result, they led 73-46 at the end of the third quarter. In the 32nd minute, the Greens made it 75-48, and by the 38th minute the lead had grown to +30 (86-56). Panathinaikos BC AKTOR sealed its place in the Allwyn Final 8 final with the final score of 91-61.

Quarters: 22-7, 46-26, 73-46, 91-61.

Iraklis (Lukic): Funderburk 2, Strong 11 (1), Darko-Kelly 10 (2), Smith 14, Tsiakmas, Moraitis 10 (2), Ware 6, Kampouridis 2, Christidis, Syllas 6 (2), Giannikos, Komnianidis.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR (Ataman): Shorts 13 (1), Kalaitzakis 7 (1), Holmes 8, Sloukas 7 (2), Hayes-Davis 9, Rogkavopoulos 11 (1), Samodurov 5 (1), Grant 2, Nunn 7 (1), Toliopoulos 9 (3), Hernangomez 3 (1), Mitoglou 10 (1).

Ataman: “We played very good basketball”

The head coach of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR, Ergin Ataman, stated at the Press Conference following the game against Iraklis:

“It was a similar game to yesterday’s. We came in focused, played good defense and scored in transition. We distributed the playing time, everyone played and scored, and we controlled the game. We played very good basketball today. The final will be a different game — two big teams will face each other once again.

I have great respect for Olympiacos because they have very good chemistry, an excellent coach, and they have played very good basketball so far, also in the EuroLeague. I believe we are ready, focused, and we will try to win again, just like last year. I think there is balance between the two teams. Life is never easy when you face Olympiacos. It doesn’t matter whether one or two players are absent.”