The Serbian team’s key players and head coach Zeljko Obradovic said they had never stopped believing after a series of losses
Faith and fervent fan support carried Partizan to big win over Panathinaikos
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3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 14 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade romped to a memorable 91-73 win over Turkish Airlines EuroLeague holder Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens on Thursday, thanks to a masterclass performance coupled with awe-inspiring support from 20,000 galvanized home fans in a jam-packed Belgrade Arena.
Although the likes of Panathinaikos are used to playing in an intimidating atmosphere on the road, the decibel level in the gym which shook the building to its core seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Greens, as they wilted like a punctured accordion in the second half after trailing 44-37 at halftime.
When asked by Euroleague.net to sum up the game and his feelings about the atmosphere, Partizan point guard Carlik Jones, who served up yet another majestic display as he sank a game-high 18 points while pulling all the strings on offense, heaped praise on his teammates as well as the crowd.
He also emphasized that a revamped Partizan team, comprising an entirely new roster, was still a work in progress while also showing massive personal confidence in his own ability.
“It was one heck of a win and I want to give a shout-out to my teammates as we all did our part tonight,” Jones said with a big smile on his face. “We never lost faith after losing six in a row. I felt from the jump that we had the ability to win games but we’re a young group being together, it’s like 14 new guys on the team.
“We’ve got to stay humble, though. As for the fans, we’re overly appreciative of them as they keep cheering us, at home and on the road, win or lose. We’ve been in a position to lose games, now we’ve got to learn how to win. We’ve got to take it one game at a time. I always felt like I was one of the best guards in this league, with all due respect to all the other guards in this league and what they’ve done.”
When approached by Euroleague.net, Frenchman Frank Ntilikina was calm and composed after a big night, warning against any complacency after Partizan appears to have gotten its season back on track.
“It was a huge atmosphere and I am happy that we stayed focused for the full 40 minutes,” he said. “Panathinaikos are a great team, they’ve got plenty of talent but we can be proud of the work we did tonight and build on it. We suffered some tough losses but we learned from them and stayed poised.
“It feels good to get four wins in a row but it’s a long season and we need to keep going. We feel the fans’ support, when we’re down and when we’re up. They bring more energy and we’re thankful for it.”
Big man Tyrique Jones got the better of Partizan’s former center Mathias Lessort with a huge double-double of 12 points and 10 boards as he outmuscled the athletic Frenchman for much of the contest. Still a fan favorite with the die-hard Partizan crowd, Lessort was moved after being shown endless love off the court as the home faithful chanted his name repeatedly before and after the absorbing contest, while young supporters preyed on him for autographs and selfies.
A heartwarming scene saw Lessort’s own son Matson, watching the game courtside with his mother, cheering Partizan as he held the club’s scarf aloft and joined the home fans in singing its anthem.
Yet, it was Jones who stole the show and emerged as one of Partizan’s heroes, having credited the fans for their relentless support. “It was a tough opponent but we executed the game plan well. I am happy that we got the victory and we want to keep the streak going. I love the fans here, it’s something you can’t get anywhere else in the world. There’s nothing like it,’ an overjoyed Jones said.
It was yet another sweet victory for Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic, who came under pressure after a poor run at one point left Partizan near the bottom of the standings with a 2-8 record. The outcome vindicated the winner of a record nine EuroLeague title, five of them with Panathinaikos, who singled out team captain Vanja Marinkovic for containing the Greek side’s top performer Kendrick Nunn. Marinkovic also rifled in a game-changing salvo of three successive three-pointers at the other end late in the first half, which set the tone for Partizan’s dominance after the interval.
“We played outstanding defense and I have to single out Marinkovic for stifling out Nunn. We always knew that he is the Panathinaikos pack leader and that we had to contain him in order to win the game,” Obradovic told the post-game press conference.
“We didn’t wilt after a series of defeats and we must now stay humble in victory in order to keep moving up the standings. Vanja’s flurry of three-pointers late in the first half was a turning point, it lifted the team and gave us a massive confidence boost.”
Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman conceded that his team was punished for a substandard performance. “We lost control of the game in the last two minutes of the first half, when we gave away open three-point shots and they took advantage,’ said the Turkish tactician.
“In the second half, we had no answer to their aggressive approach and they played a really great game. We need to improve our defense. Tonight we played like a team of veterans and we must understand that basketball is not just about quality or tactics, it’s also about aggression and commitment. Teams perform against us above their limits and we have to be ready for that.”
In Round 15, Panathinaikos visit Ataman’s former club Anadolu Efes Istanbul, where he won back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, while Partizan faces ALBA Berlin on the road in a bid to keep its winning streak going.