Seventh victory for Olympiacos
Olympiacos had a comfortable evening in Drama besting KAOD 64-82 for the 8th day of the SKRATS Basket League.
Our team made an excellent beginning in the game and with a quick 0-7 run got to lead the score. Petway, Mantzaris and Dunston were helping in the offense so that the difference reached two digit numbers (11-23) at the end of the first quarter.
With five consecutive points by Dimitris Agravanis in the beginning of the second quarter the difference reached its highest point up to that moment (13-28), at 12'. Agravanis continued in the same rhythm having scored 10, Hunter was dominating both baskets and with a partial 5-15 the difference was up to +25 for the 'reds' (18-43) at 18'.
Our team maintained the difference to digit numbers in the third quarter. Agravanis, Spanoulis and Sloukas were offering solutions in the offense and hence the Piraeus team was leading by 17 at 30" (45-62).
In the last quarter, the home team with a mini 5-0 streak closed in 50-62 at 32', but Olympiacos reacted and sent the difference to once again climb +20 (53-73 at 35') with successive threes by Mantzaris and Sloukas. During the last five minutes the players of Giannis Sfairopoulos were just managing stamina and reached a very comfortable victory.
The quarters: 11-23, 25-48, 45-62, 64-82
KAOD (Mexas): Slaftsakis 13, Trotter 2, Johnson, Georgakis 2, Atkins 6, Odom, Spyridonidis, Michel 12, Zaras 10, Law 4, Chrysikopoulos 1, Kolovis.
Olympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Petway 11 (3 3p, 3bl), Hunter 6 (12reb), Dunston 9 (5reb), Spanoulis 8 (2 3p, 6as), Darden, Sloukas 8 (1 3p, 5as), Lafayette 8, Christodoulou, Agravanis 12 (2 3p), Mantzaris 17 (4 3p, 3as), Kavvadas 3.
GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS: "We played a good game tonight, we began very focused, imposed our game and relied on our defense. We kept key players of the opponent out of rhythm and we built a difference that got bigger in the second quarter. KAOD is a good team with a full roster, enough players and it was certain they were going to react in the second half. We stayed calm, did all that we had planned and reached a rather easy victory. I would like to thank Olympiacos fans for being here and helping the team. Good luck to KAOD. We respect all the teams and of course last season's result in this gym acted as a warning bell so as to keep us alert. We were ready, did what we had to do and won".
VANGELIS MANTZARIS: "Following our defeat in Vitoria and the disappointing performance, we knew we had to play a good game. I think that for the most part we played well, built a big difference till half time, but had a blank space in the third quarter which we lost. The good thing is that just like after Valencia, we reacted after Vitoria as well. We are now focusing for the game against Neptunas in the Peace and Friendship Stadium. We played against KAOD as we should have, we don't have room for any more defeats and we want to finish the Regular Season at the top ranking seed. I wish Drama all the best".