A victory without problems against Kolossos Rhodes
Olympiacos did not have any difficulties against Kolossos Rhodes winning 77-68.
The game did not have a good start for our team and hence Kolossos succeeded in leading 10-16. Spanoulis and Dunston took over and with an 8-0 streak the Back2Back European Champions managed to lead 18-16 at the end of the first quarter with Vassilis Spanoulis having scored 10 points.
The difference reached +8 (26-18) three minutes into the second quarter for the team of Giorgos Bartzokas. The ‘reds’ tightened their defense, Christodoulou and Kavvadas got minutes, Spanoulis continued creating magic and Olympiacos led 37-28 for the half-time to end 39-30 for the hosts.
Ioannis Papapetrou was having a good offensive day, Collins and Moon assisted the Greek forward and the ‘reds’ reached +14 (50-36) at 25’ and a little later with a three by Ioannis Papapetrou the score was 53-38 while the third quarter ended at 60-45.
The ‘reds’ maintained the difference above ten points for the largest part of the quarter with the score at the end being 77-68 for the hosts.
The quarters: 18-16, 39-30, 60-45, 77-68.
Οlympiacos (Bartzokas): Moon 11 (1), Dunston 5, Spanoulis 13 (3), Perperoglou 11 (1), Papapetrou 12 (3), Sloukas 2, Collins 4, Simmons 7, Christodoulou 6, Mantzaris 2, Κavvadas 4, Katsivelis.
Kolossos Rhodes (Priftis): Papantoniou 10, Car 7 (1), Georgalis, Kommatos 7 (1), Smith 15, Stefanidis 4, Simmons 8, Tsamis 4, Osby 6, Nadzfei 7 (1).
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “The said game was used from us as a preparation game in view of the one against Anadolu Efes next Thursday. We wanted to leave Begic, Printezis and Lojeski out since they have been having some issues. Olympiacos has no intention of dismantling anyone in here; just think that we beat Laboral Kutxa and Unicaja with bigger differences than the ones in our two last A1 games. We made that decision and gave minutes to players that need to find rhythm. Kolossos stayed within their plan because they are a serious team through their coach who wanted to see things in view of upcoming important games for them”.
ANDREAS CHRISTODOULOU: “I’m happy to have been on the floor. This doesn’t mean anything, we need to remain humble and continue working. We started the game kind of numb but we finally played our game and won. Now we are focusing on the game against Anadolu Efes. Where I am now, I need to get tougher with every practice and get better, both I and my team mates. I need to play the best defense I can, not make turnovers and offensive plays are going to come through all these”.
DIMITRIS PRIFTIS: “The game served a very simple target for us. We wanted to be serious, competitive and decent against Olympiacos. We have had some good periods, but also some blank ones. We have very tough games ahead; critical ones and we focus on them. Good luck to Olympiacos in both Greece and Europe”.
SAVVAS MATSAMAS: “It was a game that we needed tonight, one to improve our image and show that we exist as a team following our defeat in Patrai. We have 15 days to improve, work for a crucial game and succeed our team goals”.