All will be decided at the Peace and Friendship Stadium
Olympiacos lost the fourth quarter final to Anadolu Efes 74-73, the series is now tied (2-2) and everything will be decided at the Friday game (26/4) at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.
The Greek and European Champions began the game superbly and with Law and Papanikolaou doing all the work succeeded in leading 20-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The Turks stayed in the game due to some impossible threes and some very difficult baskets by Savanovic, but the team of Giorgos Bartzokas continued leading 44-38 at half time.
The Turks tried to overturn the situation and succeeded in doing so leading 62-58 at 32’. At that point, the ‘reds’ ran a 12-0 series and led 70-62. At the end, Efes managed to close in 73-72 with a partial 10-3 and during the last offense of the game with a basket by Lucas, following a missed basket by Sipp, took a 74-73 victory.
The quarters: 12-20, 38-44, 56-58, 74-73
Αnadolu Efes (Mahmuti): Farmar 15 (2), Vujacic, Erden 12, Tunceri 6 (2), Sipp 7 (1), Gonlum 4, Savanovic 12 (2), Lucas 10, Guler, Barac 8 (1).
Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Hines 11, Law 15 (2), Antic, Spanoulis 5, Perperoglou 3, Shermadini 2, Sloukas 10 (2), Powell 4, Printezis 9 (2), Papanikolaou 14 (4), Κatsivelis.
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “It’s difficult to talk following such a development. I think we played just the way we were supposed to win the game, apart from the rebounding aspect. Impossible things happened at the end both on our side and on Efes’ that led to our defeat. Despite that we have the last and most critical game in our home. We’ll start preparing for this final from tomorrow on and I don’t think luck is going to once again be on Efes’ side, just like it was tonight. We are going to be ready”.
OKTAY MAHMUTI: “The team showed great character. The players fought we everything they’ve got, they had motivation, will and proved it playing as a team. That’s why we won. It was our last European game in Abdi Ipekci for the season. We wish to thank all those who supported us throughout the year. We are going to Greece with our heads high. We have to continue trying. We are confident”.