Rising to the occasion of ULEB Game 1000, host Panathinaikos turned 
back visiting Zalgiris 91-80 on Thursday in Athens to start the 
second half of the Euroleague regular season on the right foot in 
Group B. The victory allowed the Greens to even their record at 4-4, 
while dropping Zalgiris to the same mark. Both are now tied for 
fourth place in the battle for Top 16 position in Group B. By tying 
its highest point total of the season, Panathinaikos lived up to the 
moment of hosting the 1,000th game in ULEB competitions since 2000. 
The Greens also withstood an 22-36 disadvatange on rebounds by 
committing only 5 turnovers all game. Team captain Fragiskos 
Alvertis led the winners with 19 points, while Nikos Hatzivrettas 
added 17, Mike Batiste 15 and Arriel McDonald 13. Zalgiris was led 
by Arvydas Sabonis and Mirsolav Beric with 18 points each. Tanoka 
Beard put up a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while 
Paulius Jankukas chipped in 10 points. 

Panathinaikos and Zalgiris Kaunas proved from the tipoff that they 
were ready to live up to the occasion of ULEB Game 1000. After the 
award ceremony of the Greens in honor to both the ULEB president 
Edoardo Portela and Arvydas Sabonis, both teams started offering 
great basketball moments to the fans. Zalgiris tried to force an 
up-tempo game and Panathinaikos was obliged to follow this rhythm. 
Zalgiris sprinted to a 0-5 lead, the Greens answered with 4 of their 
own, but the Lithuanians had more options. Miroslav Beric hit 
consecutive three-pointers to open the margin to six points, 8-14. 
Sabonis was dominating not only in the paint but also at the 
perimeter with his outstanding assists and led his team to 12-18. 
When coach Antanas Sireika called Sabas to give him some rest on the 
bench and Zalgiris turned their defense to zone, Panathinaikos found 
the way to the basket and started recovering. McDonald scored a lay 
up for 16-18 and Alvertis was the player to tie the game, 20-20, 
thanks to an amazing fadeaway shot. The captain of Panathinaikos 
came up big, too, with a three-pointer for another tie, 25-25, but 
Zalgiris scored again to close the first period with a one-basket 
lead, 25-27. 

With Sabonis on the bench, Panathinaikos coach Zeljiko Obradovic 
tried some zone defense, too, but Dainius Salenga sank a three-
pointer from the corner to increase his team's advantage to 29-33. 
Alvertis was playing great at both ends, and was already up to 13 
points, but the visitors didn’t lose their concentration. Sabonis 
returned, but Kostas Tsartsaris and Nikos Hatzivrettas buried 2 
three-pointers to send Panathinaikos in front, 39-35, after 15 
minutes. Using three perimeter players, the Greens managed to play 
aggresive defense and also to create fastbreak opportunities, trying 
to run down the floor ahead of Sabonis. Eventually, Panathinaikos 
compiled a 12-3 balance against the zone and soared ahead 43-38. 
Haris Mujezinovis tried to face Sabonis with some overplay tricks, 
but the European legend showed all his class in helping Zalgiris cut 
the margin to 45-44. Then, however, Hatzivrettas sank an open three-
point shot to give Panathinaikos its maximum lead thusfar, 50-44 at 
the end of the first half. 

To start the third quarter, Panathinaikos was played a furious style 
of basketball, which didn't allow the guests to react. Mujezinovic 
guarded Sabonis well and also set a lot of offensive screens to 
create open shot opportunities for his teammates. Nikos 
Hatzivrettas, Jaka Lakovic and Arriel McDonald hit 
back-to-back-to-back triples and also created enough fastbreaks for 
a 16-point lead, 65-49, after 24 minutes. Panathinaikos playing in 
a spectacular way, while Zagliris had lost not only concentration, 
but also defensive balance. The Greens forged a strong transition 
game, dominated under the boards and had high shooting percentages 
that allowed them to keep the margin and feel in control Sabonis 
scored only 3 points in this quarter, while Tanoka Beard grabbed 
some offensive rebounds and scored, but it was clear that the 
Lithuanians missed energy and competitive spirit as scoreboard read 
72-59 after 30 minutes. 

With a 13-point advantage, Panathinaikos seemed to be the boss on 
the court. The start of the last quarter found Sabonis on the bench 
as Zalgiris tried to add more aggresiveness and pressure. Soon, Ed 
Cota nailed 1 of 2 free throws to cut the margin to 9 points, 74-65, 
and with Beard playing some kind of volleyball under the boards, 
Panathinaikos now tried to win the game with defense. Cota and 
Paulius Jankunas were called for their fourth personal fouls, 
Batiste and Tsartsaris as well, while Sabonis returned to action and 
Beric sank a three-pointer for 76-67. The visitors turned to zone 
defense, but Alvertis bagged another fadeaway shot for 78-69. 
Sabonis dunked for 78-72 after 36 minutes, and a Beric layup brought 
Zalgiris within 5 points at 79-74. Alvertis hit a three-pointer for 
the Greens, but Beric answered in kind for 82-77. Batiste and 
Timinskas exchanged free throws and layup, respectively, preserving 
the five-point gap, but now there was only a minute left to play. To 
start that minute, Sabonis stopped Batiste, but Cota committed his 
fifth personal foul and Panathinaikos made a 5-0 run to seal the 
victory. The final difference was 11 points, also giving the Greens 
an advantage in the case of any future head-to-head ties with 
Zalgiris. As such, the Athens crowd celebrated not only ULEB Game 
1000, but the re-entry of the Greens into the thick of the Group B 
race. 

Vassilis Skountis, Athens