Qualifying Round E, Game 2 report: BC Kyiv 96-72 Panellinios
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 Panellinios advanced to the Eurocup regular season by winning its two-way qualifying round series against BC Kyiv on points differential. Even when Kyiv downed Panellinios 96-72 in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday night, a 27-point win in the first leg was enough for the Greek team to reach regular season group D along with Aris BSA, Turk Telekom and Bnei Hasharon. Meanwhile, Kyiv lost the chance to reach its second Eurocup season and will take part in the 2008-09 FIBA EuroChallenge. Manolis Papamakarios paced Panellinios with 15 points. Anthony Grundy added 14, Giorgos Kalaitzis had 12, Brad Newley 11 and Jurica Golemac 10 for the guests. Scoonie Penn had 25 points for Kyiv, Manu Markoishvili added 22 while Brent Wright and Alex Scales each got 15. Kyiv opened the game with a 14-0 run while an outstanding Penn led the hosts to their biggest margin, 31-13, at the end of the first quarter. Panellnios improved its offense and found its go-to guys in Ivan Radenovic and Papamakarios to get within 42-32 at halftime. Panellinios stayed within 67-57 with six minutes to go but a Penn and Markoishvili fueled a 16-2 run that broughr Kyiv back in the series, 83-59, with less than two minutes to go. Grundy and Golemac sealed the outcome of the series in the final minute.
Wright got Kyiv going with a five-meter jumper that Penn soon followed with a three-point play. By the time Artur Drozdov sank a corner three-pointer, Panellinios called timeout at 10-0. Penn and Wright capped a 14-0 opening run with back-to-back baskets. Brad Newley stepped up for Panellinios with a power layup but Penn struck from downtown to keep Kyiv way ahead, 17-3. Kalaitzis made free throws and Newley added a fast break layup to give Panellinios some fresh air at 17-8. Markoishvili took over with a six-meter jumper, igniting a 8-0 run that Penn capped with another shot, good for a 25-8 Kyiv margin. Free throws by Markoishvili and Penn made it an 18-point game, 31-13, after 10 minutes. Radenovic found an easy basket at the start of the second quarter, as the guests improved their defense. Penn stepped up with a reverse layup that Grundy matched with a driving basket. Papamakarios had 4 quick points to get Panellinios within 35-24. Kyiv struggled to score now, while Radenovic and Kalaitzis kept the guests within 38-29. Penn and Wright helped Kyiv to restore a double-digit lead, 42-32, at halftime.
Panellinios tried to use long possessions after the break but Jovo Stanojevic and Penn combined for all points in a 7-0 run that gave Kyiv a 49-32 margin. Grundy stepped up with a three-point play while Newley added a driving layup to keep Panellinios out of trouble, 49-37. Markoishvili followed a triple with a layup but Grundy brought the guests within 54-42. Golemac struck from downtown while Papamakarios made it a 10-point game, 58-48. Newley beat the buzzer with a fast break dunk for a 60-50 deficit - a 16-point lead in the series - after three quarters. Kyiv needed a miracle comeback to stay alive in the series and Markoishvili tried to ignite it with consecutive baskets and a three-pointer for a 67-52 margin. Papamakarios silenced the crowd with a big triple while a layup by Stevan Nadjfeji brought the guests within 67-57 with 6 minutes to go. Kyiv was not done, however, as Markoishvili led a 16-2 run that Penn capped with consecutive layups to bring the hosts back in the series, 83-59, with 1:40 to go. Grundy took over with a critical layup and soon added free throws to seal the outcome of the series down the stretch, allowing Panellinios to seal its ticket to the Eurocup regular season. A final three-pointer by Goran Jeretin was too little, too late for the hosts.
QUOTES
Panellinios head coach Elias Zouros
"For us qualifying is very important. It was one of our top goals. Kiev is a very good team that has many good players with great personality and a big budget. We made several errors and need to do better than that. Our next goal is to qualify from the regular season into the knockout rounds."
Panellinios guard Manolis Papamakarios
"Despite the bad game and the defeat, the qualifying for the regular season groups is a huge success for Panellinios. The whole team thanks club chairman, Mr. Kyriakou."
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Euroleague.net
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