Panathinaikos BC AKTOR was defeated 96-103 by FC Barcelona at the Telekom Center Athens in a clash for the 2nd round of the EuroLeague regular season. Top scorer for the “greens” was Juancho Hernangomez, who finished with 27 points.

The visitors got off to a flying start and by the 3rd minute were already leading 11-0. The reaction from Panathinaikos BC AKTOR was immediate, cutting the gap to 11-8 in the 5th minute and going ahead 13-11 in the 6th. FC Barcelona reclaimed the lead 18-13 in the 8th minute and stretched it to 26-17 in the 9th, closing the first quarter ahead by that scoreline. The “greens” closed in at 26-24 in the 11th minute and took the lead 35-34 in the 14th, but the Catalans responded quickly, going back in front 41-35 in the 16th.

By halftime, FC Barcelona held a 51-45 advantage. The margin grew to double digits at 59-48 in the 22nd minute and extended to 66-54 in the 24th. Panathinaikos BC AKTOR cut it down to 69-62 in the 27th, yet the Spaniards once again reached a double-digit lead (75-64) before the third quarter ended 75-69.

The Spanish side surged ahead 84-69 in the 32nd minute and 87-71 in the 33rd. Panathinaikos BC AKTOR tried to mount a comeback but couldn’t close the gap, eventually falling 96-103.

Quarter scores: 17-26, 45-51, 69-75, 96-103

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR (Ataman): Shorts 4, Kalaitzakis, Osman 7, Holmes 3, Sloukas 18 (2), Rogkavopoulos, Samontourov, Grant 10 (1), Nunn 10, Hernangomez 27 (3), Mitoglou 11 (2), Yurtseven 6.

FC Barcelona (Penarroya): Punter 13 (2), Kalil 5 (1), Norris 5 (1), Vesely 7, Brizuela 3 (1), Satoransky, Hernangomez 13 (1), Fall, Laprovittola 15 (4), Clyburn 23 (4), Shengelia 17 (2), Parra 2.

Ataman: “We started without playing defense”

Panathinaikos BC AKTOR head coach Ergin Ataman stated in the post-game press conference following the home clash against FC Barcelona:

“The worst thing when playing at home is to give the visitors confidence at the start of the game. We made that mistake. We started without playing defense, soft, giving them an 11-point lead. We tried to change something, but that gap from the first half remained throughout the game. We played terrible defense, FC Barcelona played excellently, punished our mistakes with 16 three-pointers, and they ‘killed’ our centers under the basket with Shengelia, Vesely, and Willy Hernangomez. Our centers offered nothing in defense or offense. They deserved to win, and they did.”

“In basketball, there is a reality: to be ready, you need to work. We didn’t have time to work. We started with a double-week, we have a problem. We have a problem. We’ll try to fix it, but we have a problem. That’s the reality of basketball, of team sports. If you don’t work as a team, then you face these disastrous situations.”