Cotton shines but Panathinaikos prevail

The Bryce Cotton, DJ Vasiljevic back court combined for 46 points in their first time playing together with the Adelaide 36ers but Kendrick Nunn and Panathinaikos BC Aktor claimed the 106-89 win in Sydney.

The Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament wrapped up on Sunday night at Qudos Bank Arena and they were treated to a show with Cotton and Vasiljevic teaming with the Sixers for the first time and coming up against the Greek giants.

It took almost five minutes for Cotton to knock down his first shot in Adelaide colours ahead of NBL26 with the five-time MVP at the Perth Wildcats warming to the task nicely in his highly anticipated battle with Nunn.

It was Vasiljevic who got firing back on his old home court in the second quarter and as a result the 36ers were leading 47-39 by the half-time break.

It was in the third quarter when Panathinaikos blew the game wide open with 34 points to 21.

They backed it up in the fourth too with another 33 to 21 to outscore Adelaide in the second half 67-42 to come from eight points down to secure the 17-point victory.

Despite the final result, the signs were encouraging for the 36ers especially with former NBA Best Sixth Man Montrezl Harrell still to come into the line-up for the start of NBL26.

Cotton looked especially good in his first appearance playing for the Sixers with 24 points and nine assists while captain Vasiljevic produced 22 points with 6/9 three-point shooting.

Isaac Humphries also played his first game of the pre-season and had 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals with Zylan Cheatham contributing 11 points, nine boards and three assists.

The surprise in the Adelaide line-up was Vrenz Bleijenbergh who only parted ways with the South East Melbourne Phoenix on the eve of NBL26. He had seven points, three rebounds and two assists in almost 16 minutes.

Kendrick Nunn is the reigning EuroLeague MVP with the former Miami Heat, LA Lakers and Washington Wizards NBA guard leading Panathinaikos with 26 points, four rebounds and two assists on 4/7 three-point shooting.

Nikos Rogkavopoulos also finished with 14 points and eight rebounds with 4/6 from deep while Richaun Holmes added 14 points and nine boards, Ntinos Mitoglou 12 points and four rebounds, Jerian Grant 11 points and 10 assists, and Juancho Hernangomez 10 points.

The 36ers will now turn their focus to beginning their NBL26 campaign in front of their expectant home fans at Adelaide Entertainment Centre when they play host to the Brisbane Bullets next Sunday.

PAVLOS GIANNAKOPOULOS TOURNAMENT 2025

ADELAIDE 36ERS 89 (Cotton 24, Vasiljevic 22, Humphries 12)

PANATHINAIKOS BC AKTOR 106 (Nunn 26, Holmes 14, Rogkavopoulos 14)

BOX SCORE