Panathinaikos remember what it takes to win, Jovic what it feels like to play again / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens needed a month and a half to celebrate their fifth EuroLeague victory of the season.

Player of the Game EFF 18 Jeremy Evans Points 14 Accuracy 6-7 Rebounds 3 Assists 1

Although the Greens were missing starting center Giorgos Papagiannis and guard Daryl Macon, they managed to easily take down an equally shorthanded Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz squad on Friday night.

Apart from the fact that the Greek side needed the win after falling to Anadolu Efes literally at the last second of their Round 22 game in Istanbul, coach Dimitris Priftis wanted to bring his team's latest signing back on the court.

Panathinaikos had been in contact with Stefan Jovic before they even decided to sign Yogi Ferrell last October. Their only concern was about the Serbian being injury-prone, as the experienced floor general got hurt during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Belgrade in June 2021.

Credit FIBA

Almost seven months later, 31-year-old Jovic did not only step on the court again but helped Panathinaikos both substantially and logistically. The two important absences, combined with the health problem (sinusitis) that team captain Ioannis Papapetrou is dealing with and which will require surgery, made Jovic's comeback to action almost an imperative for the coach Dimitris Priftis."Maybe it was risky to send Jovic to the court for 19 minutes. He probably should have played a bit less, but he had to help us, given all the injuries that we have. I hope he gets into shape soon," the Greek coach said in the post-game presser.

Jovic's debut in the green jersey resulted in 6 points, 3 assists, and as many rebounds.

Referring to the problems his team is facing, Priftis dropped a lot of names.

Panathinaikos Athens / Schedule

Panathinaikos Athens Zalgiris KaunasWed19:00 Panathinaikos Athens Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz75-63 Panathinaikos Athens Monaco BasketTue19:00 FC Barcelona Panathinaikos AthensThu20:00

"Papagiannis and Macon have a big impact on our game, and the roster was shortened with the departure of Kendrick Perry. Howard Sant-Roos was on the verge of contusion this week, while Nemanja Nedovic has a problem with his back. But we are doing the best we can," he further elaborated.

Credit Vangelis Stolis

Returning to the case of Stefan Jovic, Priftis revealed that his initial wish was for Kendrick Perry to stay, at least until the Serb learned the ropes.

"He is an experienced player, but he is not in good physical shape," he repeated.

"He wants proper management so that we don't lose him. That was the reason why I didn't want Perry to leave now, as his presence would help us for the next one or two months. But what happened was best for both sides."

Once again, after his debut, Jovic couldn't hide his desire and impatience to help Panathinaikos in the games to come. "It's very nice to be back, seven months without basketball is a lot. It's not easy, but I feel well, and that's the important thing," the Serbian international told Greek broadcaster NOVASPORTS. "I'm happy with the way the game went. I don't know how many point guards have been with this team in the last couple of years, but I'm here to do my job, and I want to help my teammates."

Jovic pointed out that his mission is to be Priftis's on-court extension. "I know very well what the coach wants. My job is to help the coach's hands reach up to the floor."Joining a team in the middle of the season requires a quick acclimation to the new environment. Jovic is getting this kind of help in his adjustment process by no other than his friend and countryman Nemanja Nedovic.

"I'm very happy that he's here and that he can help me," he said. "I want to give everything for this team, who signed me while I was six months off."

Credit Vangelis Stolis

Nedovic, who put up 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists without ever really gearing up during the game, underlined that Stefan is a true point guard, with a lot of EuroLeague experience.

"He showed what he can do after having only two practices, and I'm looking forward to playing more with him."

Jovic and the entire Panathinaikos squad were reduced to only two pre-game practice sessions because of the heavy snowfall, which rendered the OAKA installation off-limits until Thursday. That's why their rescheduled game against Zalgiris on Wednesday was destined to be suspended again.

Regardless of how depleted PAO appeared, a good start is usually half the battle. The hosts made an excellent first quarter, followed by another 20 minutes of solid basketball.

Baskonia, who had to play through last-time injuries (Matt Costello suffered an ankle sprain in Athens), COVID (Tadas Sedekerskis, Arturs Kurucs, Alec Peters) were no match for the Greens.

"It was a good win for us. I think defensively we were amazing, especially in the first half," Nedovic commented.Jeremy Evans, who added 14 points to the green tally, said that he and his teammates had "a very tough week."

Evans mentioned the last play against Efes, where Adrien Moerman hit the game-winning three-pointer for the Turkish side. "We lost that game in a way you definitely don't want to remember," he pointed out.

"Against Baskonia, we had to protect our home court and get the win," he concluded.

Neven Spahija, on the other hand, had his hands tied due to the absences that decimated the pool of available players. The Croatian coach recently revealed that his team has its sights on the market, looking for a replacement for Landry Nnoko, who parted ways with the club in not the most friendly of ways.

However, in breaking down the game, Spahija didn't look for excuses. His team is 7-14, and the playoff boat seems to have sailed long ago, without the Basques being on it.

The battle was lost for Baskonia in the first quarter (22-8 for PAO), and Spahija didn't have much to say.

"I would like to congratulate Panathinaikos for the victory. Too often, we coaches want to protect our team not to lose the game in the first half, but today we lost in the first half," he said.

Baskonia were horrible at perimeter shooting, missing their first 13 attempts, which nevertheless included several open looks.

"We had a low percentage on 3-pointers, as well as on 2-pointers, and we were very bad overall," Spahija noted.Compared to the first three quarters, the fourth period had Baskonia overtake Panathinaikos by 31-18. When Wade Baldwin finally turned on his scoring engines, it was already garbage time, as the guests were trailing by as many as 25 (32-57).

"I cannot be satisfied with my team. I'm disappointed," the former assistant coach for the Hawks and the Grizzlies continued.

"We know we are better than what we showed today, but we will work and improve."

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