A good training session for Panathinaikos was the semifinals of the Stoiximan Super Cup. The Greens defeated Aris 81-68 and advanced to the tournament final for the first title of the 2024/25 season.
Panahtinaikos comfortably advanced to the final of the Stoiximan Super Cup on the afternoon of Saturday (28/9), as they defeated Aris 81-68 at the renovated closed gym of Kallithea in Rhodes.
The Greens, who did not have Lorenzo Brown and Genadi Osman in their twelve, played just enough in the first half, stepped on the gas at the start of the second, and gave no grounds for their opponents to challenge them. Kendrick Nunn with 16 points and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis with 11 were the top scorers for Ergin Ataman’s team.
On the other hand, the Thessaloniki team played without injured players Hodge – Lazewski, was competitive in the first period, but quickly realized that they lacked the talent and depth to seek anything more.
The European and Greek champions will face the winner of the second semifinal of the Stoiximan Super Cup (Olympiacos – Peristeri) on Sunday (29/9 at 20:30).
22-18 points from opponent’s mistakes, 32-28 points in the paint, 12-2 points from second chances (offensive rebounds), 10-11 points on fast breaks, 38-28 points from the benches of both teams.
The Match
With Bohoridis – Mantzoukas hitting the first shots, Aris was competitive at the start. They took the lead and held onto it, while Panathinaikos relied on Lesor’s dynamism until Nunn hit a three-pointer for 14-13 in the 7th minute. At the end of the period (20-20), the Greens made a mistake, with Sloukas yet to step on the court.
This happened at the beginning of the second, with Aris having significant foul trouble and Panathinaikos’ second unit building a small lead (30-24 at 14′). Hatzidakis kept the Thessaloniki players close with his tenacity, but he and Gounberry each had seven fouls at halftime (44-30), with another five for Aris in the two.
With Nunn scoring consecutive three-pointers at the start of the second half, Panathinaikos expanded their lead (55-37 at 24′) and while Aris continued to fight, they could no longer pose a problem for Ataman’s team. Kastritis lost Bohoridis in the 33rd minute (technical and unsportsmanlike foul) and there it was all decided, as the Greens managed the game with ease.
THE REFEREES: Tsarouha, Karpano, Tsimpouris
THE QUARTERS: 20-20, 44-30, 66-46, 81-68
PANATHINAIKOS AKTOR (Ataman): Grant 8 (4 assists), Nunn 16 (1/1 two-pointers, 4/10 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Lesor 8 (4/7 two-pointers, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Grigonis 7 (1), Mitoglou 4 (2/5 two-pointers, 8 rebounds, 2 assists), Kalaitzakis 11 (2/3 two-pointers, 1/2 three-pointers, 4/5 free throws), Moraitis 1, Sloukas 9 (2/3 two-pointers, 1/2 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws, 3 assists), Samonourov 2, Papapetrou 4, Hernangomez 3, Yurtseven 8 (3/6 two-pointers, 2/2 free throws, 11 rebounds)
ARIS (Kastritis): Banks 11 (3/3 two-pointers, 5/5 free throws, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks), Noli 2, DeJulius 5 (1 three-pointer, 2 rebounds, 6 assists), Mantzoukas 6 (0/7 two-pointers, 2/4 three-pointers, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Toliopoulos 3 (1/5 shooting), Hatzidakis 10 (3/3 two-pointers, 4/5 free throws), Giouzelis 2, Purlidas 6 (2), Gounberry, Roberts 7 (3/3 two-pointers)
Team statistics of Panathinaikos AKTOR: 19/35 two-pointers, 7/23 three-pointers, 22/30 free throws, 37 rebounds (23 defensive – 14 offensive), 17 assists, 10 steals, 1 block, 10 turnovers, 16 fouls
Team statistics of Aris: 15/28 two-pointers, 8/22 three-pointers, 14/15 free throws, 27 rebounds (22 defensive – 5 offensive), 22 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks, 19 turnovers, 30 fouls