A dominating, devastating, spectacular first half, then it’s a struggle, the free throw nightmare and the vigorous reaction by a great Panathinaikos team. But in the end it’s another great Olimpia night, 77-75, fifth Top 16’s win, ninth home win out of ten, second place confirmed, a terrific, unexpected hero, the brave Bruno Cerella, the guards’ Mason Rocca. 11.000 people inside the Forum. An Olimpia to remember, goosebumps and the dream lives on.

THE FIRST HALF – James Gist is on fire early in the game. He scores 7 points in the first five minutes and Pedoulakis’ team, looking to score with the bigs, is up 9-6. Olimpia is trying to distribute better the shots. EA7 produces a 7-0 run including five consecutive points by Langford, jumping from 9-11 to 16-11 and Pedoulakis has to burn a time-out, although Hackett has to get a sit with two early fouls, leaving his spot to Jerrells. After the time-out, it’s Jerrells to make a three with the shot-clock expiring to extend the run to 10-0. At the end of the first it’s 19-13 Olimpia. Early in the second the Olimpia’s defensive show is continuing, sustained by a couple three by Langford and Jerrells, a big play by Gentile and a fast-break lay-up by Cerella. The lead goes up to 12 three times, then to 15 after a Bruno Cerella’s sequence including a steal, a three and finally a big block on Zach Wright. Olimpias goes up by 18 after a big three by Gentile, 37-19, biggest lead. At the end of the first half it’s 41-26 because of a Bramos’ buzzer beater.

THE SECOND HALF – The Panathinaikos’ run is 9-0, including the end of the first half, when Ukic scores on a drive and it’s 41-32 Olimpia. Langford breaks the run with a corner three and just like that Hackett makes two foul shots, playing with three fouls. But Panathinaikos has another kind of efficiency, scores 13 points in 5 minutes and it’s down by 12, 48-36, during the first time-out of the second half. Olimpia comes out very strong, with a 4-0 run and 52-36 on the scoreboard. It’s Wright, just signed by the team, to respond with a 5-0 run all alone forcing Hackett’s fourth foul. With 2’15” left in the third, Maciulis’ steal and ensuing three-point play push Panathinaikos under the double digit margin, 55-46. Olimpia responds with Samardo Samuels: he draws a foul, make two free throws and then makes a thunderous dunk over Gist to re-establish a 59-46 lead. At the end of the third Olimpia is up 59-49. Gentile makes a foul shot, then creates an assist out of a scrappy play for Samuels, but the 62-49 lead is still small because of too many missed foul shots. Offensive rebounds are helping Panathinaikos, Fotsis makes a three and in a second the lead is being reduced to five point, 64-59. Then it’s a three-point game, 64-61, before Samuels and Langford makes on free throw each let Olimpia breathes, 66-61. Wright voids a great defensive stance with a tip-in, Langford draws a foul and makes two foul shots to extend the lead at 68-63. After a devastating Gist’s dunk, from the corner, Bruno Cerella makes the second three of his game and it’s 71-65. Samuels dunks on a Moss’ assist but yet Samuels was called with the fifth foul. Cerella steals a long offensive rebound, generating two fouls shots for Moss. David makes just one, Wright scores again with 10 seconds remaining. The closing seconds are endless. Langford makes two free throws, Wright draws the Hackett’s fifth foul and with 7 seconds left, Melli goes to the line. Nicks misses both and Panathinaikos has another window open. With 3 seconds left the lead is 76-75. Langford makes one but it’s enough to win. 77-75.