Panathinaikos AKTOR defeated Anadolu Efes Istanbul at home (75-67) in Game 5 of the EuroLeague Playoffs series and secured a ticket to the Final Four in Abu Dhabi, where they will have the opportunity to defend the crown they won last year in Berlin.

Panathinaikos AKTOR started the game in impressive fashion, playing exemplary defense and scoring relentlessly in transition — both on primary and secondary fast breaks. The +8 (18-10) lead at the end of the first quarter quickly became +22 (35-13 at the 15-minute mark), with Ergin Ataman’s players giving their opponents no room to respond. The visitors increased their defensive pressure and made some perimeter shots towards the end of the second quarter, but the difference stood at +11 (41-30) in favor of Panathinaikos AKTOR at halftime.

The double-digit lead was maintained until midway through the third quarter (47-36 at 25′), with Panathinaikos remaining in control despite increasing ball pressure.

The quarter ended at +7 (53-46) for Panathinaikos AKTOR, thanks to a buzzer-beater from the three-point line (6.75 meters).

The battle continued in the final period, with Anadolu Efes Istanbul applying pressure, but Panathinaikos AKTOR always had the right response. The +9 (57-48) lead in the 33rd minute became +5 (63-58) by the 37th minute, before the margin went up by one point (67-61) with 1:39 left on the clock.

Two big defensive plays in the final seconds helped push the lead back to double digits (71-61), tipping the scales definitively in favor of Panathinaikos AKTOR, who secured their spot in the Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

Quarters: 18-10, 41-30, 53-46, 75-67.
PANATHINAIKOS AKTOR (Ataman): Kalaitzakis, Sloukas 4, Osman 28 (4), Grant 11 (2), Pleiss, Nunn 12 (2), Gabriel 8, Hernangomez 3 (1), Mitoglou 5 (1), Yurtseven 2.
ANADOLU EFES ISTANBUL (Banchi): Larkin 11 (2), Bryant 16 (3), Smits 7 (1), Thompson 7 (1), Dozier 8 (2), Poirier 6, Ozdemiroglu, Osmani, Oturu 8, Yilmaz 3 (1), Willis 1.

Ataman: “It feels good to win”

Ergin Ataman spoke about the feeling of winning, qualifying for the Final Four and everything that is coming for Panathinaikos AKTOR in Abu Dhabi.

In detail, what he said:

“Congratulations to Anadolu Efes Istanbul and its players, they showed great character and never gave up. We changed the order in the third game, in Istanbul, we kept the home court advantage and tonight we started with confidence and good defense. We found many points from Osman in the surprise attack, Gabriel helped us defensively, we were tough and we took the advantage.

Our bench did not help us in the middle of the second period, in the third we tried to escape but we made many mistakes, 16 tonight. Our key players missed a lot of shots, but Cedi played his best game against Panathinaikos and in the end we found ways to win and qualify for another Final Four.

All the series were tough. There is nothing easy in the playoffs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul fought, came with eight wins in a row in the regular season, they were in great shape and showed it. In Abu Dhabi, all the teams will fight for the trophy and we will be one of them.

Nan didn’t have a good rhythm. Anadolu Efes Istanbul faced him with two and three players throughout the series. Tonight he found shots, in the first period he made a few, but then he got stressed as he missed on easy attempts for him. But they were tough, he played great defense, we are in the Final Four and I am sure he will be important for us there.

I’m not ready to think about Abu Dhabi. We’ve had two weeks of a lot of stress, it was very stressful for me to play this series against my former team, with whom I have so many memories. There was a lot of stress, I need to rest and then I’ll prepare for the semi-final of the Final Four. It’s a nice feeling to win. I never think about the back-to-back or the three-peat. We need to rest, prepare for the semi-final and if we do, we’ll think about the title.

I’m very tired tonight, I talked yesterday before the game about what happened in Istanbul, I don’t want to talk about it again”.