The first trophy in the after Obradovic period in Panathinakos is a fact!! In a game which just ended in Ellinikon court, the team of Coach Argiris Pedoulakis with 3D Dimitris Dimitris Diamantidis (196-G-80) in the leading role beat the team of Olympiakos with 78-81 and is officially the Cup winner for the period 2012-2013 keeping the cup which won last season too against the same team.
Coach Argiris Pedoulakis won his first title as a Head Coach and the same goes for a number of players in the team of Panathinaikos since (let's not forget) the team of Panathinaikos is a bright new team in the Greek league with the 10 of 12 players coming only some months ago in the Green team.

The first period was...........Green!
The team of the six star, Panathinaikos having in a great night his two guards, Dimitris Diamantidis and Roko-Leni Ukic (196-PG-84) (his best game since he arrived in the Greens) was dominant in both edges and showed his moods from the early beginning since Argiris Pedoulakis team had nothing to do with the team that lost a couple of days ago in SEF since it was obvious that the egoism of the Greens was hurt and they wanted to get even against the red European champions. So, from the early beginning and in nearly all the first period, Panathinaikos with mature game, less false balls, faster game and the well known pick n roll with 3D in the key role and Stephane Lasme (203-F-82, college: Massachusetts) and Big Sofo in the "receiver" role, took an early with double digit since Giorgos Bartzokas starters (Spanoulis, Acie Law (190-G-85, college: Texas A&M), Papanikolaou, Printezis and Powel) faced some serious issues against the starters of Panathinaikos and Coach Argiris Pedoulakis (Roko-Leni Ukic, Dimitris Diamantidis, Maciulis, Gist and Stephane Lasme) as in teh fist five minutes the score was 3-10, the reds had too many false ball and not the clear mind and the target which seems to be stronger in the Greens. 3 minutes before the end of the first period, Big Sofo after an excellent assist by 3D did the 5-16. Sloukas entrance change the mode for a bit since he run the reds and scored a couple of baskets but the three pointer by Roko-Leni Ukic brought the deficit to -13 for the Reds, before Hines and Antic cutting the difference to the end of the period to 15-23.

The 78 minutes of the second period!!
The second period though was the longer one ever since after the first three minutes and upon the score being 17-26 for Panathinaikos, the fans of both the teams decided to take the control of the game and a chaotic situation took place with "fights" among the two teams most idiot "supposed to be" fans the game was interrupted and begun after one hour and five minutes with the referees actually sending off the court all the fans and letting in the court only a couple of hundred people which were the owners of the special entrance passes developed for the Greek final, but it took some time in order to be "checked" once more.
In any case after these 65 minutes the two teams enter into the game with the Greens being even more aggressive and with a couple of three pointers by Kapono and Gist and a jump shot by Roko-Leni Ukic the score went up to +17, 20-37. Under the fasma of a great loss for Olympiakos, Coach Giorgos Bartzokas took the time out in order to change the momentum, and by changing his tactic gave the "green light" to the Skopjan Antic to shoot the ball from behind the arc and with 2 out of three and another 4 points by Vspan, Olympiakos cut the deficit to 27-37, those were the first points by Spanoulis. Panathinaikos though with Roko-Leni Ukic in a great night and another one three pointer, increase the green deficit to the 14 points before closing this first thrilling and very long period with a goal-foul by Shermandini to the final score for the first half, 30-41

The Red strike back
The third period was obviously very crucial for the two teams since Olympiakos wanted to change the green momentum and decided to enter in teh court with his characteristic fast game, so at the early beginning with two quick three pointers, and unsportsmanlike foul received by Kyle Hines, the game went down to four (41-45) with only three minutes running in the period.
Coach Argiris Pedoulakis saw the momentum changing colors so his fast time-out was not enough since the reds with solid defense beginning from the green paint stole the ball and Vspan scored for the 43-45, Stephane Lasme with a goal-foul and a great dunk by Gist after a stealing by the same player, brought the difference to the seven points for the greens who showed an element which never before this season showed, BASKETBALL CHARACTER, so 4.11' before the end of the period Perperoglou not only missed his shot but he clearly fouled Dimitris Diamantidis, and due to his behavior over the referees call, Olympiakos received a technical foul. Dimitris Diamantidis temper and experience offer to the Greens at the particular moment 6 consecutive points, since 3D scored all four of his free throws while Roko-Leni Ukic scored a great lay-up after a coast to coast from down town. So the score once more went to +13, and once more changed the momentum, (43-56). Hines and Papanikolaou though with two long shots cut the deficit to 53-39 after a 10-3 two minutes after and when Panathinaikos played without his natural leader Dimitris Diamantidis who was decided (wisely) to remain off the court to get some breaths. However, with Roko-Leni Ukic crescent and an amazing three pointer over Spanoulis the final score at the end of the third period went to +9 for Panathinaikos 53-62 simply due to the leadership skills of Dimitris Diamantidis and the scoring ability which was shown by Roko-Leni Ukic and Gist.

The thrilling final period and the ......Green cup
Even though Olympiakos control the third period, Panathinaikos kept the deficit in a "safe mode" so Coach Bartzokas once more decided to surprised his opponent, so with a solid and sometimes tough defense and very smart passing game, the reds took over in the fourth period and with an unanswered 6-0 cut the deficit to 60-62, 8 minutes before the end of the derby. The game between the two best teams in Europe the last decade or so, was once more at a cutting edge. The long shots by Kapono (the American was silent for more than 15 minutes) and Roko-Leni Ukic gave some breaths to the Greens who once more took a lead of +7, 62-69. Olympiakos replied back and succeeded a 5-0 (67-69), with his American duet, Acie Law and Hines, the strong red defense (especially over Schortsianitis in the paint) and a three pointer by Sloukas brought for the first and last time Olympiakos leading the game with 72-71, 37'. Dimitris Diamantidis though wanted this title more than ever so with his correct leading skills and with a goal foul of Roko-Leni Ukic (the great) brought a new green series of 0-7 and the score went back to its normal 72-78.
The reds were too tough to die, so with Acie Law in an excellent momentum and fast drives against his tired opponents, the game went once more to the basket, 76-78 30" to the end of the game. Stephane Lasme's three of four free throws were critical, since the final three pointer by Spanoulis and the last rebound by Dimitris Diamantidis found the Greens repeating their last year's title and the captain and MVP of another title was more enthusiastic than ever, maybe because it was among the few times in his career that his team was not the favorite team to win any title.. The final score of this Greek cup's final was 78-81.
Periods: 15-23, 30-41, 53-62, 78-81
Top scorers:
Olympiakos: Acie Law 15, Pero Antic (210-F-82, agency: Beo Basket) 17, Spanoulis 12 and Sloukas 10
Panathinaikos: Dimitris Diamantidis 19 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, Roko-Leni Ukic 18, Stephane Lasme 16, Gist 11