Panathinaikos AKTOR made a serious appearance and won 92-68 against Villeurbanne in the 6th day of the EuroLeague, in front of around 14,000 fans at OAKA. Lorenzo Brown, Kendrick Nunn and Juancho Hernangometh were leading the way.
Panathinaikos AKTOR had an easy task on Wednesday night (30/10) against Villerban, or rather he made his life easy, entering the game to decide and being serious to get out of the way early. Ergin Ataman’s team prevailed by a wide 92-68 to improve to 4-2 (2-0 at home and 2-2 away) after 6 games in the EuroLeague.
Lorenzo Brown, Kendrick Nunn and Juancho Hernangometh were the three stars for the shamrocks, who had the opportunity to share time and responsibilities, in this first game of the devil’s week and before the trip to Serbia to battle Red Star Yannis Sfairopoulos.
The MVP
Juancho Hernangomet has been in excellent form since the start of the season, playing with great confidence and giving Panathinaikos AKTOR solutions on both sides of the floor. Against Villeurbanne, the Spanish forward had 13 points (5/5 two-pointers, 1/1 three-pointers), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in just 16’55” of participation, to write 24 points in the ranking.
The stats that stood out
Panathinaikos AKTOR entered the game with 9/9 two-pointers, while Villerban had 1/13 three-pointers. The Greens got 14 points from 13 offensive rebounds, and they totaled 41, allowing their opponent to collect 20.
The fight
Panathinaikos AKTOR started the game with Grant, Nan, Osman, Hernangomet and Yurceven, who showed the greatest sincerity, to lay the foundation of victory early. The Greens scored 27 points in the quarter on 9/9 2-pointers and 3/5 3-pointers, while allowing just 14, forcing Villeurbanne to shoot 13 3-pointers, of which she made just one.
Although the offensive production of the clover fell in the second period, the difference between the two teams remained at high levels (45-29, 20 ‘). Lorenzo Brown and Kendrick Nunn closed the first half with 10 points each, and on the visitors’ side, Neil Sacco was the only consistent scorer who also had 10 points.
The picture did not change even after half time, as the clover opened the gap over 20 points (73-52) in the 31st minute, after a three pointer from Kostas Sloukas.
THE JUDGES: Mogulkoc, Pander, Obrknezevic
THE DRINKS: 27-14, 45-29, 70-52, 92-68
Panathenaic (Ataman): Kalaitzakis 2 (2 steals), Brown 17 (4/4 2 points, 3/4 3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Sloukas 9 (2/4 3 pointers, 3 assists), Osman 5 (2 /4 3-way, 5 rebound), Papapetrou 1 (3 rebounds, 2 steals), Grant 2 (2 rebounds, 7-assist), Nan 14 (4/5 2-way, 2/5 3-way,, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 5 turnovers), Leesor 9 (4 rebounds, 2 turnovers), Antetokounmpo 3, Hernangomet 13 (5/5 two-pointers, 1/1 three-pointer, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal), Mitoglou 7 (7 rebounds, 1 steal), Yurtseven 10 (2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 blocks)
Villerban (Puppe): Harrison 12 (4 assists, 4 steals, 2 turnovers), Schofield 6 (2/4 3-pointers, 3 turnovers), Kahudi 3 (1), Malenton 1 (2 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers), Azansa 6 (2/8 threes, 5 rebounds), Jackson 13 (1/4 threes), De Colo (5 assists, 3 turnovers), Sacco 12 (4 rebounds), Lighty 7 (1), Enjay 4, Black 4, Paul
Panathinaikos AKTOR team statistics: 28/42 2 pointers, 9/19 3-pointers, 9/18 shots, 41 rebounds (28 defensive – 13 offensive), 22 assists, 8 steals, 16 turnovers, 3 blocks
Villeurbanne team statistics: 21/31 2 pointers, 7/27 3-pointers, 5/9 shots, 20 rebounds (15 defensive – 5 offensive), 19 assists, 7 steals, 14 turnovers
The next games of both teams: In the 7th matchday, Panathinaikos AKTOR will go to Belgrade to play with Red Star (1/11, 21:00), while Villerban will welcome Bayern in France (1/11, 21:00).
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Basketball Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone! Today, we have an exciting interview lined up with basketball expert Alex Johnson, who joins us to discuss Panathinaikos AKTOR’s impressive performance against Villeurbanne in the EuroLeague. Thank you for being with us, Alex!
Alex Johnson: Thanks for having me! It’s great to talk about Panathinaikos and their strong start to the season.
Editor: Absolutely! The game ended with a commanding score of 92-68. What stood out to you the most from their performance?
Alex: There were a few key points, but the most significant was their offensive efficiency. Panathinaikos started the game incredibly strong, making 9 out of 9 two-point attempts. That really set the tone for the match. Their ability to finish inside, coupled with a strong defensive effort, allowed them to control the game from the outset.
Editor: Speaking of the defense, Villeurbanne struggled significantly from beyond the arc, shooting only 1 out of 13 on three-pointers. How do you think Panathinaikos’ defense contributed to that?
Alex: The defense was stellar! Panathinaikos not only forced Villeurbanne into tough shots but also did a great job closing out on shooters. They limited their opponents to one good look after another, which clearly disrupted Villeurbanne’s game plan. The mismatch in rebound totals—41 for Panathinaikos compared to 20 for Villeurbanne—also played a huge role in limiting second-chance opportunities for Villeurbanne.
Editor: Let’s talk about the stars of the match. Lorenzo Brown, Kendrick Nunn, and Juancho Hernangomez were crucial. Hernangomez, in particular, has been in excellent form lately. Can you elaborate on his impact during this game?
Alex: Definitely! Juancho’s versatility was on full display. He contributed on both ends of the court, and his statistics are impressive—13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal in under 17 minutes is nothing to scoff at. His ability to stretch the floor and finish around the rim helped open up lanes for others. It also demonstrates how well he’s adapted to this team’s style and the confidence he’s gained this season.
Editor: The victory brought Panathinaikos to a 4-2 standing in the EuroLeague, and they will face Red Star next. What are your expectations for that upcoming matchup?
Alex: It will be a different challenge. Red Star is known for their physicality and relentless style of play. Panathinaikos will need to maintain their discipline and focus, especially on the boards and defensively. If they can replicate their offensive efficiency and play solid defense, they should have a good chance of extending their winning streak.
Editor: Before we wrap up, what are your thoughts on this season so far? Any predictions on how Panathinaikos might fare as the EuroLeague progresses?
Alex: It’s still early, but if they continue to play the way they did against Villeurbanne, they could be serious contenders. The depth they’ve shown, especially with players like Brown, Nunn, and Hernangomez stepping up, suggests they have the tools to compete at the highest level. It’s going to be exciting to see how they develop throughout the season!
Editor: Thank you, Alex, for sharing your insights! Panathinaikos AKTOR certainly seems to be on a positive trajectory in this EuroLeague season, and we can’t wait to see how they perform against Red Star.
Alex: My pleasure! Let’s hope they keep the momentum going.
Editor: Thanks to our readers for joining us! Stay tuned for more updates and analyses on the EuroLeague.