Olympiacos wins in Istanbul

Olympiacos bested Fenerbahce/Ulker in Istanbul 78-73 and with a victory on the last day of the TOP-16 against Khimki will qualify for the play-offs.


Τhe quarters: 19-13, 34-33, 53-56, 73-78

Fenerbahce/Ulker (Erdogan): Μc Caleb 12, Οnan 12 (2), Ermis 4, Sato 12, Τripkovic, Andersen, Peker 10, Savas 8, Batiste 3 (1), Karaman 6 (1), Prelzdic 6.

Οlympiacos (Bartzokas): Hines 5, Law 5 (1), Antic 9(3), Spanoulis 14 (2), Perperoglou 9 (1), Shermadini 4, Sloukas 2, Powell 2, Gecevicus, Perkins, Printezis 12, Papanikolaou 16 (4).

GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “As TOP-16 comes to an end, each game for every group is very important. The pressure for the teams that have a motive is great. And we have to manage that pressure. Fenerbahce had no motive, but they are certainly a talented team. We had to show character, especially when we were trailing by 8 and we did it. The most important thing right now is to keep winning. We now hold our fate in our hands. We need a victory in the last game to make the TOP-8. I would like to congratulate my players for their performance since every game at this stage is important. I would also like to wish Fenerbahce/Ulker good luck”.

KOSTAS PAPANIKOLAOU: “Each Euroleague game is difficult. The team that’s considered to be the favorite has to make it an easy one. Fener is a talented team and with a roster of great value, they may haven’t found chemistry up to now, but they are a quality team that can hurt you at any time. We played quite a good game; we fought and won the game. At this point, the only important thing is the victory. It was a very tough game and we had some difficult moments during. There are also injury problems you have to face during a season. We have had many problems the whole season, but these things happen, the point is to take the victories you need. Now, had we beaten Maccabi, we would be talking about other things and in a different fashion. We are now playing a final, the fans have to be there and we have to be ready. We have a whole week to prepare. Maybe, based on the rest of the results, which I don’t know at the moment, the winner will be making the play-offs, so we need our fans at the gym, we ask them to be there and we are expecting them to help us get a victory we really need”.