2-2 and a final in Madrid
Olympiacos edged Real Madrid 71-62, tied the series 2-2 and now the Back2Back European Champions are traveling to Madrid for the fifth and final game that will decide qualification to the Final Four.
During the first quarter, Olympiacos once again did what got him going in the third game, that is keeping Real Madrid below 20 points in scoring, leading the game to a desired tempo and closing it trailing 15-16.
The Back2Back European Champions kept the guests without scoring for nine minutes into the second quarter. Playing extraordinary defense, the players of Giorgos Bartzokas succeeded in dominating the floor and taking a 37-30 at half-time.
Real Madrid quickly closed in into the third quarter and tied the score 47-47, with the quarter ending 49-47 for the hosts. Olympiacos did everything right in the last quarter, was controlling the rebounds, made the necessary free throws along with some big shots and reached a 71-62 victory.
Τhe quarters: 15-16, 37-30, 49-47, 71-62.
Οlympiacos (Bartzokas): Petway, Shermadini 2, Dunston 13, Spanoulis 12 (2), Papapetrou 7 (1), Sloukas, Collins 4, Simmons, Printezis 10 (2), Mantzaris 10, Katsivelis, Lojeski 13 (3).
Real Madrid (Laso): Fernandez 18 (3), Reyes 4, Diez, Mirotic 9, Rodriguez 2, Carroll, Darden 10 (2), Llull 4, Bourousis 8, Slaughter 5, Mejri 2.
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “I cannot begin any other way, than celebrating the fans for the atmosphere in the gym. It was a party and I cannot remember anything like it in the past. Of course, we still have a very tough task against Real Madrid, but it was a party everyone participated, the players and the fans. Real has the best offense in Europe and we have to congratulate our players for an extraordinary defense played. We forced them into playing bad and being unable to create. I don’t want to speculate on what would have happened should we have had a home court advantage. As you know, we made lost four games in a row, without three key players. Now, we have prepared mentally for the Friday game. We are not the favorites, but I think we have enough chances”.
PABLO LASO: “Congratulate to Olympiacos for the victory. The game is very simple. The fourth game was a lot like the third one. Olympiacos played as a team and most of the time we were trying to win as individuals. Players make a team, but players cannot win titles by themselves. There was a big difference tonight. We worked the whole season to gain the home court advantage for this series. We now have to focus on the Friday game that is like a final for us. Olympiacos played excellent defense with a lot of energy and we could not play as a team. We played only as individuals. Whatever you prepare to cope against a team, you have to do it as a team, not as units. We miss two very important players. Draper is out and Carroll has just returned. This is not an excuse; Olympiacos has done a great job in both games”.
MATT LOJESKI: “We are now ready for the big game in Madrid. We were trailing two games, we have tied the series and I think we can make it. The key in the fourth game was the same as in the third one. We played with focus; we maintained a safety net and won. Everyone was an MVP, everyone helped and everyone contributed to this victory, so that’s why we did it”.
VANGELIS MANTZARIS: “We kept Real Madrid at low scoring for a second game in a row. We originally had set to reach the Final-8, now we aim at the Final Four. I think we changed our thinking here, we tried to follow their tempo in Madrid and got trapped. WE cannot change much in 48 hours. Milan is one game away. Now fatigue is a factor for both teams. We are going to play in Madrid and whatever will be, will be”.