A defeat for our team
Olympiakos lost to Panathinaikos 67-65 in the final quarter and now the playoff series is tied 2-2. Now everything will be judged in the fifth final in the Olympic Stadium Wednesday, June 4.
In the first quarter the players of George Bartzokas started nervously and playing with consecutive errors allowed Panathinaikos to take the lead. The "reds" were particularly misguided, without concentration on defense and so the first quarter ended 16-19 in favor of the guests.
In the second period Olympiakos continued to make mistakes in defense, allowing Panathinaikos to get a difference and to maintain it as to the end of the first half (30-43). In the third period, Dunston, Sloukas and Lojeski gave some solutions and Olympiakos reduced to 43-49 with a partial of 13-6, but Panathinaikos sent the difference back over ten points in the third period which finished 45-57.
In the last period Olympiacos fought for the big tipper. Sloukas, with consecutive points helped Olympiacos to 'clipping' the difference at 63-66. There the Greek guard missed a unique opportunity to tie the score at 66-66 at 39:50’’ missing a shot behind the line of 6.75. At reset, however, he made a bucket making a one point game (65-66). Panathinaikos scored ½ shots and Spanoulis failed to send the game in overtime as his very tough to make shot did find the target.
Quarters: 16-19, 30-43, 45-57, 65-67.
Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Petway, Dunston 15 (7reb, 4st) Spanoulis 1 (7as) Perperoglou 4 Sloukas 11 (1), Collins 5 (1), Simmons 4, Lojeski 14 (2 3p, 8reb, 2st) Printezis 11, Mantzaris.
Panathinaikos (Alvertis): Bramos, Curry 2, Fotsis 3 (1), Oukic, Lasme 17, Mavrokefalidis 10, Diamantidis 13 (2), Gist 5 (1), Jankovic 8 (1), Macioulis, 9 Wright.
GEORGE BARTZOKAS: "Firstly congratulations to Panathinaikos for the victory. There are two things you need to stand on in my opinion. One is what was the game itself. Panathinaikos played well; we were terribly nervous, and very hasty both in defense and in attack. So inevitably, our aggressive harvest was very low, at 65 points, while we know that Panathinaikos cannot score many points. We rushed in attack, we had no good choices, we did not have the patience to see the open player, so we encouraged the reaction of Panathinaikos. Beyond that there is something else that we all are dealing with basketball we are witnessing once again happening. Fortunately, as you know our own Presidents neither send threatening notes nor intimidate referees, currently the system in Greece is questionable, the triplet of Anastopoulos, Karakatsounis, Panagiotou had come in the first game of the finals here last year, when Panathinaikos had made another break. Apart from things that I see for the first time, as the ball cleanly hitting on the dash and Lasme blocking the ball had hit on the dashboard, calling three free throws on Perperoglou who hadn’t even touched Macioulis, I'll leave all these things behind, there have been too many phases and I do not want to linger. Anyone can see the video will make an analysis and understand what is happening. I want to say this, we score with 8'' to go and immediately go for the foul. Under the Regulations each contact is a foul, so we made 3 or four fouls on Diamantidis until he passed the ball, we fouled Fotsis and finally the referees called a foul with 2'' to go. It is the first time I see this happening in European basketball and for me this certifies a few things. I do not want to expand and become more colorful, I have told you that we always respect the opponent and that means we respect the opponent and the conditions of the game. Neither bullying the referees, nor anything else. I got a technical foul in the first play of the game because of a remark, from Tomic to Mr. Anastopoulos, when he had to stand up and was told to sit down while the Panathinaikos bench was up in all of the time and when I protested he told me to sit down or I would be called a technical penalty and that I should also stop talking and I said why should I stop talking and he gave me a technical foul. For me these things are certainly not unprecedented, but they are things that grieve and hurt us today, "said the Greek coach.
Asked about the fifth and final match, the Greek coach said, "is a process that you must do. We'll talk before training, we want to play better and of course we claim our chances there to win. We still have a chance to win there. Anyway a few days ago we won there and we never lost easily. Always matches there appear to be decided in a shot. It will be seen. We hope to have the same conditions although I doubt. "
FRAGISKOS ALVERTIS: "We did what we wanted today, we wanted to bring the series back to the Stadium. There are some moments in life and in sports that some things matter more. Like faith, self-esteem and effort. A really militant soul. Technically I do not want to dwell, there is no reason, in just 2-3 days we play the fifth game. I want to say thank you to the fans who came yesterday to the workout and also today at the hotel, for being by our side when things were difficult. That's what counts, to be there when it’s tough and when you are in need of help. Some things are more important than the tactics and all. When you hurt your ego and correct your mistakes you can win. Faith and confidence were essential for the victory to come today. "
STEPHANE LASME: "It was a tough game for both teams. We did a group effort; we got help by players like Vlado Jankovic and got the win. "
MARDY COLLINS: "We did not enter the game as we would have liked. Not released the ball properly as in previous games. We have to play better. It was a tough game, we did not play as a team, we made individual efforts, both I and my teammates and generally did not play well at all. "
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