The Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament 2025 tipped off in front of a lively crowd at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena, where Panathinaikos Aktor rallied from behind to overpower Partizan Mozzart Bet, 91-82.
The matchup delivered plenty of early-season drama, with both teams exchanging blows before the Greek powerhouse seized control in the second half.
Kendrick Nunn was the standout performer of the night, logging 33 minutes and producing game-highs of 21 points and eight assists.
“I just tried to push the pace, get my teammates involved, and take the shots when they were there,” Nunn said after the game. “For us, it’s all about building chemistry.”
Omer Yurtseven was equally impressive, dominating inside with a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double. Nikos Rogkavopoulos added ten points, while Juancho Hernangomez and Jerian Grant chipped in nine apiece. Youngster Alexandros Samodurov also showed flashes of promise with eight points.
Partizan, though falling short, had its own bright spots. Duane Washington Jr. led his side with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including five three-pointers. Jabari Parker followed with 18 points, Dylan Osetkowski scored 16, and Sterling Brown added 13.
“It’s preseason, but you can already see where we’re headed,” Parker noted. “We’ve got a lot of talent – we just need to tighten up on the defensive end.”
The Greens trailed for much of the contest, down for 22 minutes, before erupting in the third quarter to flip the momentum. By the final buzzer, they had built and protected an 11-point cushion.
Coach Ergin Ataman, managing a roster hit by injuries and careful with rest, was without several key names, including Marius Grigonis, Richaun Holmes, Mathias Lessort, Cedi Osman, and T.J. Shorts II. Veterans Kostas Sloukas and Ioannis Kouzeloglou also remained on the bench.
“We have to be smart this time of year,” Ataman explained. “What matters is being healthy for the EuroLeague.”
Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic also dealt with absences, missing Isaac Bonga, Tyrique Jones, Mario Nakic, Frank Ntilikina, and Aleksej Pokusevski. “This tournament is about testing lineups and giving opportunities,” Obradovic said. “We will take the positives and work on the rest.”
Both teams now travel to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for the second leg of the seventh annual Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament. On Sunday, Panathinaikos will square off against the Adelaide 36ers, while Partizan takes on the Sydney Kings, giving Australian fans a rare chance to see EuroLeague giants in action.
The preseason grind is ultimately aimed at sharpening the squads for the upcoming EuroLeague campaign. Panathinaikos will open their season on September 30 at home against FC Bayern Munich in Telekom Center Athens, while Partizan starts the same night with a high-profile clash against Bayern’s rivals in Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena.
