Final 8: To the semifinals with ease!
Olympiacos bested Peristeri 87-68 and got the ticket to the semifinals of the Greek Cup Final 8, where they will be playing with the winner of the Promitheas - Panionios game.
The 'red & whites' found it rather hard at the beginning of the game under the pressing defense Peristeri was playing (8-12 at 5'). However, relying on captain, Kostas Papanikolaou (who closed the first quarter with 13p.), turned the situation around and closed the first quarter at +15 (21-16). The line up with Walkip, Long, Larentzakis, Petrusev and Wright worked brilliantly on both ends of the floor and allowed our team to build a 14 point lead (37-23) at 16'. However, bad decisions in the offense and defense lapses that followed, gave Peristeri the leeway to reply with a 12-3 partial and close in 40-32 at 20'.
With Isaiah Canaan leading the way, Olympiacos increased the distance to 15p. (51-36). Peristeri tried to come back 'striking' from the distance (54-45), but was never really able to threaten our team. Giannoulis Larentzakis took the baton in scoring and the end of the 3rd quarter found the 'red & whties' at +15 (62-47). The outlook of the game did not change into the fourth quarter either. Moses Wright and Filip Petrusev dominated the post, Olympiacos maintained complete control (+18, 75-57 at 36') and got the easy win.
- During the game, Nigel Williams-Goss felt discomfort in the left bicep and sat the rest of the game out. He would be undertaking an MRI afterwards.
The quarters: 21-16, 40-32, 62-47, 87-68.
