It seemed that all the favorites were on their way to the Euroleague Final Four, after the first victories of Fenerbahçe, Efes, Olympiacos and Monaco, but Efes spoiled the hosts' party tonight in Athens.
Luka Banki's team defeated the European champion, Panathinaikos, away from home - 79:76, and took away the home court advantage - 1:1 in the series.
The next two matches will be played in Istanbul and if Efes uses that advantage and wins both matches in front of their home crowd, they will advance to the Final Four.
Panathinaikos led the entire match, and in the third period of the game they had a 14-point lead, but Efes managed to come back and turn the match around in a tense finale.
Shane Larkin scored five key points for the visitors - a shot to tie the game, then a three-pointer to make it three points with a minute and a half left, and the home team failed to recover.
Larkin was the most efficient player in the match with 20 points.
Fenerbahçe came within a win of the Final Four, and unlike Panathinaikos, they justified their home court advantage - 2:0 in the series against Paris.
Šarūnas Jasikevičius's boys won the second match even more easily and convincingly than the first - 89:72, and now they are heading to the City of Light to claim a place.
Tarik Biberović was the most efficient player in the Turkish team with 20 points.
The Olympiacos-Real and Monaco-Barcelona series continue tomorrow. The Greek and French teams are leading 1-0 each.
Bonus video:
