Panathinaikos was not absent from the court even today. The team had set the appointment for this afternoon in order to train for the encounter versus Zalgiris Kaunas (Friday, December 28, 22.00) in THYEuroleague Top16 Game 1. Dimitris Diamantidis managed to get through most of the training session, while Sofoklis Schortsanitis also attended a part of it but behind a more relaxed tempo.
Press Conference
Panathinaikos Head Coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, will be holding a Pre-Game Press conference tomorrow for the clash versus Zalgiris Kaunas, at the OAKA indoor arena Press Conference area at 18.00.
History
Panathinaikos and Zalgiris Kaunas have met up 14 times in the past. Only once has the Lithuanian team managed to leave the court a winner, tradition having the Greek team win on all other occasions. Zalgiris Kaunas’ one and only victory took place in Lithuania during 2003-04 regular season, when it had edged its opponent 80-74.
Panathinaikos – Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania) 13-1
2011-12 Euroleague 92-75 94-59*
2008-09 Euroleague 78-51 80-69*
2004-05 Euroleague 84-73* 83-78
2003-04 Euroleague 74-80* 91-80
2002-03 Euroleague 94-79* 98-84
1999-00 Euroleague 82-66* 86-82
1995-96 Euroleague 59-56* 65-58
Numbers
*Panathinaikos remains the rebound dominating team in Euroleague behind its 36.4 average. However it also remains top turnover team with a 16.3 average.
*Dimitris Diamantidis is top Euroleague assist giver, dishing 6.3 per game, while Stephane Lasme also maintains first place with his 2.6 blocked shots average.
*Dimitris Diamantidis enters the Top16 having 320 assists in his entire Euroleague career as many as Pablo Prigioni. All he needs in order to place himself at number 2 of the respective list is a single perfect pass. First spot is currently occupied by Thodoris Papaloukas and his 327. Diamantidis is also 5 blocks shy of 100, only to become the first guard in the league’s history ever to have reached such a number.
*Kostas Tsartsaris needs to drain 5 more three-pointers in order to reach 100 throughout his Euroleague stride.
“Relations”
Jonas Maciulis was born in Kaunas and competed for Zalgiris from 2005 until 2009. He has been teammates with Paulius Jankunas, Darjus Lavrinovic and Marko Popovic. He has also been teammates with Ibrahim Jaaber but in Armani Milano (2010-11).
Roko Leni Ukic has also been teammates with Jaaber, but in Lottomatica Roma (2008), while the Croatian Guard has also competed next to Darjus Lavrinovic during the 2010-11 season for Fenerbahce Ulker.
Sofoklis Schortsanitis was named Euroleague MVP of the week for the first time in a game versus Zalgiris Kaunas during his first season in the league. He reached 32 ranking index when in 25 minutes of action he tallied 25 points (10-for-12 field goals). A Zalgiris player had his own record against Panathinaikos, Darjus Lavrinovic, who competed behind 7 blocks on 17/3/2005 in a game which finally went to the Greens by 83-78. This performance of his is the third best of all times. First position belongs to a Green, Stojan Vrankovic with 10 blocked shots accomplished in a single game.
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