A good training session for Panathinaikos was the semi-final of the Stoiximan Super Cup. The greens won 81-68 against Aris and advanced to the final of the tournament for the first title of the 2024/25 season.
Panathinaikos comfortably reached the final of the Stoiximan Super Cup on Saturday afternoon (28/9), as they defeated Aris 81-68 at the renovated gym in Kallithea, Rhodes.
The greens, who did not have Lorenzo Brown and Cedi Osman in their roster, played as needed in the first half, stepped on the gas at the start of the second, and left no room for questioning from their opponents. Kendrick Nunn, with 16 points, and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, with 11, were the leading scorers for Ergin Ataman’s team.
The Thessaloniki team, for its part, took the floor without the injured Hodge – Lazefski, was competitive in the first period, but quickly realized that they did not have the talent and depth to pursue anything more.
The European and Greek champions will face the winner of the second semi-final of the Stoiximan Super Cup (Olympiakos – Peristeri) on Sunday (29/9 at 20:30).
Points from opponent’s mistakes: 22-18, points in the paint: 32-28, second chance points (offensive rebounds): 12-2, fast break points: 10-11, points from bench players of the two teams: 38-28.
The Match
With Bohoridis and Mantzoukas making the first shots, Aris was competitive at the start. They took the lead and held onto it as Panathinaikos relied on Lesor’s dynamism until Nunn hit a three-pointer for 14-13 at 7′. At the end of the period (20-20), the greens had one turnover, with Sloukas yet to step on the court.
This happened at the beginning of the second quarter, with Aris facing significant foul trouble and Panathinaikos’ second unit building a small lead (30-24 at 14′). Hatzidakis, with his tenacity, kept Thessaloniki close, but he and Gunberry had seven fouls at halftime (44-30), with another five from Aris in two quarters.
With Nunn scoring consecutive three-pointers at the start of the second half, Panathinaikos widened their lead (55-37 at 24′) and while Aris continued to fight, they could no longer challenge Ataman’s team. Kastritis lost Bohoridis at 33′ (technical and unsportsmanlike), and at that point, everything was definitively decided as the greens clinched the game…
THE REFEREES: Tsaroucha, Karpano, Tsimbouris
THE QUARTERS: 20-20, 44-30, 66-46, 81-68
PANATHINAIKOS AKTOR (Ataman): Grant 8 (4 assists), Nunn 16 (1/1 two-point, 4/10 three-point, 2/2 free throws, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), Lesor 8 (4/7 two-point, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Grigonis 7 (1), Mitoglou 4 (2/5 two-point, 8 rebounds, 2 assists), Kalaitzakis 11 (2/3 two-point, 1/2 three-point, 4/5 free throws), Moraitis 1, Sloukas 9 (2/3 two-point, 1/2 three-point, 2/2 free throws, 3 assists), Samontourov 2, Papapetrou 4, Hernangomez 3, Yurtseven 8 (3/6 two-point, 2/2 free throws, 11 rebounds)
ARIS (Kastritis): Banks 11 (3/3 two-point, 5/5 free throws, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks), Noli 2, DeJulius 5 (1 three-point, 2 rebounds, 6 assists), Mantzoukas 6 (0/7 two-point, 2/4 three-point, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Toliopoulos 3 (1/5 shots), Hatzidakis 10 (3/3 two-point, 4/5 free throws), Giouzelis 2, Pourlidas 6 (2), Gunberry, Roberts 7 (3/3 two-point)
Team statistics for Panathinaikos AKTOR: 19/35 two-point, 7/23 three-point, 22/30 free throws, 37 rebounds (23 defensive – 14 offensive), 17 assists, 10 steals, 1 block, 10 turnovers, 16 fouls
Team statistics for Aris: 15/28 two-point, 8/22 three-point, 14/15 free throws, 27 rebounds (22 defensive – 5 offensive), 22 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks, 19 turnovers, 30 fouls