It wasn’t to be. Despite leading by ten at the break (38-28), Regal Barça will not be going to Greece to defend a 2-0 lead. They may have been the better side in the first half, but the Greeks tested the regulations to the full in the second and got the better of some controversial refereeing decisions. Now it’s off to the OAKA in Athens for games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday. Everything is up in the air.

Amazing atmosphere

On one of those nights when you could count the empty seats in the Palau on one hand, Regal Barça were unable to provide their vocal support with the result they deserved. Either side could have won it, but a late attempt from Lakovic failed to find the target and the Greeks celebrated a big win on the road.

The result aside, FCB could feel proud, and opened the scoring through Anderson, which generated a ticker-tape response from the crowd and raised the team’s confidence. They gave nothing to their rival. Diamantidis missed his first attempt, and was totally smothered out of the game for the first 20 minutes, although in the second half it would be he and Sato that masterminded their comeback.

Ten up at the break

Barça were amazing in defensive rebounds, while Navarro led some terrific attacks. The only downside was the free throws, but not even that stopped them storming to 11-3. The first period ended 17-10 after Vázquez had come on to get six points in a row.

A Jaka Lakovic three opened the second period, and Panathinaikos were clearly struggling. The biome side went +16 (28-12), but then came the Greek response, helped by some odd calls against the Barça defence, and a 0-9 streak meant the half-time score of 38-28 had Panathinaikos still in the hunt.

The second half started with a three from Anderson, but it was then that Diamantidis started coming into his own. His three made it 43-33, and then two more suddenly had his side back to within four (46-42).

Gripping finale

Xavi Pascual’s side reacted with some stunning basketball, but two highly protested decisions ended with a technical foul against Navarro, and a tense atmosphere in the Palau. Against that backdrop, for some inexplicable reason, Barça had thrown away all their good work and led by just one at 57-56. Incredible!

Panathinaikos then managed to produce the goods under pressure. Tempers were boiling, but Diamantidis made the most of it, with Sato also on fire, while the Greek defence tested the rulebook to the limit. The Greeks went ahead for the first time in the match (57-58) and then went on an extraordinary 0-11 streak to leave Barcelona in big trouble. It all looked lost at 62-70, but then FCB produced a reaction. Navarro got a triple and a 2+1, to leave things at 71-72.

Diamantidis missed a free throw, but a late effort from Lakovic missed the basket and Batiste responded by slam-dunking his side to victory. Barcelona will have to win in Greece. Just like they did a year ago at Vistalegre.