Panathinaikos and CSKA with convincing wins at the start of Euroleague season


Panathinaikos and CSKA with convincing wins at the start of Euroleague season
Nikola Pekovic scores for PAO (Euroleague.net)
22-10-2008 22:52

Panathinaikos found the perfect start to the 2008-09 Euroleague season with a convincing 78-51 victory over Zalgiris.
 
Dimitris Diamantidis led four players in double figures with 15 points for the Greek powerhouse, which hopes Wednesday’s home win is the start of a campaign ending in another Euroleague crown.
 
Nikola Pekovic came off Zelimir Obradovic’s bench for 14 points in 14 minutes of action while Antonis Fotsis and Michael Batiste each tallied 10 points and combined for 10 rebounds. Dusan Kecman meanwhile chipped in five assists.
 
Zalgiris, which swapped coaches just last week, committed 22 turnovers to 10 for Panathinaikos and Loren Woods paced the Lithuanian side with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Dainius Salenga added 11 points but no other player hit for more than seven for Gintaras Krapikas’s team.
 
Defending Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow left no doubt about its status as a top contender to win it all again by thrashing Armani Jeans Milano 90-64 in the Russian capital in Group D on Wednesday. CSKA won the opening game in Group D and visits Panionios On Telecoms next week. AJ Milano will look for its first win at home against Efes Pilsen.
 
Trajan Langdon led the winners with 18 points. Nikos Zisis contributed 15, J.R. Holden added 13, Erazem Lorbek got 12 while Ramunas Siskauskas had 11 for CSKA.
   
Jobey Thomas and Pape Sow had 12 points apiece for AJ Milano while Marco Mordente and David Hawkins each added 11.
 
Langdon and Terence Morris shined in the opening minutes to give CSKA its first double-digit lead, 17-6. Mordente tried to change things for Milano, and for within 28-19 midway through the second quarter. CSKA found a go-to guy in Viktor Khryapa, who buried consecutive triples and soon added free throws to make his team break the game open, 49-27,at the break. Holden took over after the break, as CSKA boosted its margin to 61-34 and did not have major problems to register its first win in the 2008-09 Euroleague season.

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