A big win for Olympiacos in Malaga
A great performance by the Back2Back European Champions and a victory in Malaga 80-63.
Our team began the game tornado style. The Back2Back European Champions led by Vassilis Spanoulis took the lead from the beginning and with the captain playing an amazing game in orchestration and execution the first quarter ended 18-28 in favor of the Giorgos Bartzokas’ team.
The way the game was heading did not change into the second quarter. Olympiacos continued with amazing defense and the only problem was some missed defensive rebounds, while half-time was 34-41 for the guests.
The Back2Back European Champions was exquisite in the second half. Lojeski, Petway and Mantzaris were doing an incredible job, Spanoulis continued from where he had left the first half and the difference surpassed 15 points at 26’ (43-58). The third quarter ended with a three by Spanoulis that wrote 50-63 on the board.
Olympiacos never wanted to allow a margin for error in the last quarter and the difference climbed at 15 points once again at 33’ (53-68). In the last seven minutes the Piraeus team completely dominated both ends of the floor. Spanoulis stopped executing, but was creating one play after another for his team mates. Lojeski, Dunston and Papapetrou were turning the captain’s assists into baskets and Olympiacos reached the final 63-80 victory.
The quarters: 18-28, 34-41, 50-63, 63-80
Unicaja (Plaza): Sabonis, Urtasun 13 (2), Calloway 2, Suarez 8 (2), Granger 6, Vasquez 6, N’giurane, Toolson 4, Kuzminskas 2, Dragic 10 (2), Stimac 10.
Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Petway 9 (1), Shermadini 6, Dunston 7, Spanoulis 20 (4), Papapetrou 8 (2), Sloukas 6 (1), Simmons 2, Mantzaris 2, Kavvadas 2, Lojeski 18 (1).
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “As you all know it was a very critical game for both teams. We came here with the sole purpose of winning. It’s always difficult to win in a court such as Malaga’s that has an extremely competitive team. Unicaja put a lot of pressure on our guards, but we had patience, we moved the ball well and found the way to the basket in the right manner. Our creation has been superb, we had 22 assists. Mantzaris and Spanoulis in specific were reading the game exceptionally well and led the team correctly. We played defense the way we had planned for 35 minutes. I’m very happy because although we were missing two very important players like Perperoglou and Printezis our players proved that the team is above all else. We now have to win in Istanbul. We look at one game at a time”.
MILAN TOMIC: “We had 22 assists and 10 turnovers. When you only have 10 turnovers against Unicaja in Malaga, where they put so much pressure, it’s really important because it shows how much we had control of the game. Also Vassilis made a big game, we controlled the rebounds as well and reached victory. 75% in 2-pointers comes from the 22 assists. We punished every bad defense by the opponent. We sure miss Printezis and Perperoglou. When you are a big team, each one that comes on the floor has to give 100%. When you play for a big team, you have to take the opportunity as soon as you come on the floor. Papapetrou seized the opportunity right away and has played a third good game in a row”.
VANGELIS MANTZARIS: “We have had a lot of injuries this season. We miss Acie (Law) from the start, then it was Spanoulis, now it is Perperoglou and Printezis and we have had a lot of problems from the beginning to sum things up. So we all have to give something more at all times. We have built team character, we always play well at big games and we are focusing on the game against Anadolu Efes. We know to read the pick n’ roll, to read the press and we showed from the beginning that we were only aiming at victory”.
ΙOANNIS PAPAPETROU: “I do the best I can every time I come on the floor. It’s all for the team. It doesn’t matter what I do. The first order I had from the coach was to play defense and go for the rebounds. When you play together with guards like Spanoulis and Mantzaris everything gets easier. We are only looking at the next game, that is the one against Trikala. We need a good game and then it’s Anadolu Efes. If we don’t win in Istanbul then it tonight will be for nothing”.