Aris defeated Panathinaikos 69-65 in the first game of the Basketball League. The Thessaloniki team proved to be a tough nut to crack and managed to cope with the difficulties of the match.

The hosts approached the match strongly and managed to take the reins of power into their own hands, completely controlling the match. Aris took a 29-20 lead in the first half, fully imposing their pace.

Dejan Radonic’s side tried to turn the tide in the third quarter, taking a 42-43 lead. The third period ended with a draw between the two teams (45-45), and the final took on the character of a thriller.

Clover led 49-53 early in the last period. Aris, however, reacted and with 10-4 turned the situation around to 59-57 with about five minutes left in the match. The hosts made it 63-58, but Radonic’s team equalized 63-63 with two minutes left in the game.

In the last minute of the game, the Thessalonians led by three points (66-63) with Goodwin. Bohorides made moves in one of Panathinaikos’ last attacks, and the epilogue of the match was written by Note’s accurate shot.

Quarters: 16-15, 29-20, 45-45, 69-65.

Ares (Kastritis): Horchler 8 (2/5 3-pointers), Goodwin 19 (9/13 2-pointers, 1/4 shot, 12 rebounds), Note 13 (4/14 shots, 3/4 shot), Nezipoglu 2, Huggins 11 ( 1/ 6 3s, 8 assists, 5 errors), Sanogo 5 (1 3s, 5 rebounds), Toliopoulos 8 (1 3s, 4 assists, 4 errors), Schisas 3 (1), Fillios, Sidiroilias.

Panathinaikos (Randonic): Papayannis 10 (5/5 two-pointers, 6 rebounds), Andrews 7 (1), G. Kalaitsakis 2, Ponitka 8 (3/4 two-pointers, 2/5 shots), Grigonis 10 (3/7 three-pointers, 1/2 shots, 4 rebounds), P. Kalaitsakis, Lee 10 (2/6 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 errors, 4 steals), Bohorides 3 (1/5 three-pointers, 4 rebounds), Mantsoukas, Gudaitis 2.