Panathinaikos BC AKTOR prevailed over PAOK with a 93-83 victory at the Telekom Center Athens, in the opening round of the Stoiximan GBL.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR opened the game with a two-point shot by Shorts for 2-0, while Grigonis scored under the basket for 4-2. Grant made it 6-5 with an off-balance finish, before the “greens” went on a 4-0 run led by Samontourov to reach 11-8. The overall 7-3 stretch gave a 13-8 advantage, the first +5 lead for Christos Serelis’ team. Samontourov continued with another field goal, followed by a dunk and a foul in transition for 18-10, while the quarter ended with Mitoglou’s free throws that set the score at 20-10 in favor of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR carried on with a basket from Mitoglou for 26-14, before Moore made one of two free throws for PAOK (26-15). Toliopoulos finished a nice play for 28-15 and added a three-pointer to push the lead to 31-15 (+16). The visitors answered with a basket and foul by Melvin (33-17, missed the extra free throw), but Mitoglou replied with another three-pointer for 36-17. Nunn connected from beyond the arc for 45-26, and Holmes extended the margin beyond twenty points for the first time (47-26). The quarter concluded with Jackson’s free throws, making it 51-31 for Panathinaikos BC AKTOR.

The “greens” started the second half with a mid-range jumper by Rogkavopoulos for 53-34, while Holmes added two consecutive baskets to make it 59-38. Shorts hit from inside for 62-44, before Dimsa’s third three-pointer reduced the margin for PAOK to 62-47. Toliopoulos then assisted Mitoglou for 66-49. Persidis threw down a dunk to bring PAOK within eleven (67-56), but Nunn responded with a three-pointer for 70-56. The quarter closed with a buzzer-beater by Kalaitzakis, setting the score at 72-58 for Panathinaikos BC AKTOR.

Christos Serelis’ team began the final period strongly with a follow-up dunk by Hernangomez for 75-58. Mitoglou remained the main offensive option, scoring consecutively for 77-65 and 79-65, then completing a three-point play for 82-65 and a personal 7-0 run. Hernangomez followed with another three-point play to make it 85-69, while Toliopoulos added a three-pointer for 90-75. Holmes finished a tough play under the basket for 92-79, and the game ended with a final score of 93-83 in favor of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR.

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR: Shorts 10, Kalaitzakis 4, Holmes 8, Rogkavopoulos 2, Samontourov 11, Grant 4, Kouzeloglou, Nunn 12 (2), Toliopoulos 5 (2), Grigonis 3, Hernangomez 9, Mitoglou 22 (1)

PAOK: Melvin 9 (1), Koniaris 3 (1), Slaftsakis, Zaras, Jackson 22 (1), Jones 13, Persidis 9 (1), Iatridis, Brown 2, Fillios, Moore 11, Dimsa 14 (4)

Quarter scores: 20-10, 51-31, 72-58, 93-83.