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The Panathinaikos team is just one victory away from securing a spot in their 12th Final Four, a milestone they hope to achieve for the second consecutive year, and the second time since 2012. After a remarkable journey last season, where they claimed their seventh European title, and with a previous season ending in 17th place, the “Greens” have yet another chance to make history tonight at 20:30.
Following a slight setback in Game 2 at OAKA and a tie at 1-1 against the competitive Anadolu Efes, they bounced back with a win at the Basketball Development Center last Wednesday (April 30). Now, Ergün Ataman’s players are aiming for another victory in Istanbul to take a 3-1 lead and secure their place in the Abu Dhabi Final Four (May 23-25).
With Vincent Poirier sidelined in the second quarter, Panathinaikos found it easier in the paint. The “Greens” established a double-digit lead in the third quarter, but allowed Luka Banchi’s team to make a strong comeback in the fourth, turning the match into a nail-biter.
The two teams are well-acquainted, and all three previous matchups have been closely contested. Anadolu Efes will face a do-or-die situation on Friday (May 2), as a loss would mean they miss out on the Final Four for the fourth consecutive year. The last time Anadolu Efes attended the Euroleague Final Four was in 2022 in Belgrade, where they eliminated Olympiakos thanks to an incredible three-pointer by Mitic in the semifinals and subsequently won the title against Real Madrid with a score of 58-57.
“We want to secure our ticket to the Final Four in Istanbul,” stated Omer Yurtseven from Panathinaikos during the Media Day ahead of Game 4. Ergün Ataman’s players will approach the court with determination, as a return to OAKA for a Game 5 on Tuesday (May 6, 21:45) carries significant risks, especially against the back-to-back champions of 2021 and 2022.
Banchi plans to send two or three players to challenge Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas. “We need to find scoring options from other perimeter players. It will be tough, the series continues, but we have gained the advantage. The fourth game will be a hard battle; we will strive to win, but it won’t be easy,” Ataman conveyed to his team.
One thing is certain: European fans will witness yet another “battle of giants” between two teams that never give up!
In another matchup taking place on Friday (May 2, 21:45), Barcelona will again host Monaco, aiming to even the series at 2-2 against Vassilis Spanoulis’s team. Monaco had taken a 2-0 lead but did not deliver as expected in Game 3, allowing the Catalans, led by a spectacular performance from Willy Hernangomez, to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Source: APA
