It was the first-ever game between two EuroLeague teams held on Australian soil
Panathinaikos and Partizan make history in Australia
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens opened the 7th Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament with a 91–82 victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at John Cain Arena in Melbourne, Australia. This marked the first-ever EuroLeague matchup held on Australian soil – and the first time two EuroLeague teams faced off in the Southern Hemisphere.
The sold-out crowd was treated to a thrilling contest, with passionate fans from both clubs filling the stands and creating a vibrant atmosphere. Despite dealing with injuries and jet lag, both teams delivered an exciting performance to kick off their Australian tour, which concludes in Sydney on Sunday.
Kendrick Nunn led the winners with 21 points. Omer Yurtseven added 20 and 13 rebounds while Nikos Rogkavopoulos had 10 points for Panathinaikos. Duane Washington led Partizan with 19 points. Jabari Parker added 18, Dylan Osetkowski 16 and Sterling Brown 13.
Washington knocked down four three-pointers in the first quarter, helping Partizan build a 27–20 lead. Osetkowski’s strong play kept Partizan ahead 44–37 at halftime. But Panathinaikos responded with a 10–0 run led by Jerian Grant, Yurtseven, and Nunn to take a 52–46 lead. Rogkavopoulos capped the third quarter with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to make it 62–58. In the final quarter, Juancho Hernangomez energized the crowd with an alley-oop slam followed by a fast-break dunk. Nunn extended the lead to 80–69 with just over four minutes remaining and sealed the win with a powerful dunk in the closing moments.
Fan support and atmosphere
Partizan fans made their presence felt from the moment the team arrived, greeting players at the airport and showing strong support in the arena.
"To have close to 11,000 people in the arena and a true split between Panathinaikos and Partizan supporters is something we have never seen before on Australian soil in basketball," NBL director Nikola Milivojevic said.
"We will all get to witness and experience the passion and energy these clubs bring, and it sets the perfect stage for the Sydney games on Sunday where fans can expect the same intensity and spectacle."
What's next?
Both teams now head to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for Sunday’s doubleheader. Partizan faces the Sydney Kings and Panathinaikos goes against the Adelaide 36ers.
"The success of this tournament is a testament of the legacy that Pavlos Giannakopoulos left behind," Panathinaikos president Vassilis Parthenopoulos said.
"He was a visionary leader and the heart of Panathinaikos for decades. We are so proud to showcase our club in front of our passionate supporters in Melbourne tonight, and to do the same in Sydney on Sunday."