Like a tornado in Vitoria
Olympiacos was really enjoyable in Vitoria against Laboral Kutxa, edging it 89-70 and thus now having a 2-2 record for the Euroleague TOP-16. An impressive performance by all the Olympiacos players.
The Back2Back European Champions began the game perfectly with Spanoulis, Lojeski and Printezis doing an amazing offensive job. Hence the team of Giorgos Bartzokas managed to lead 15-26 at the end of the first quarter.
The ‘reds’ were even more impressive on both courts in the second quarter. The Piraeus team was burning hot behind the 6.75 arc, imposed the rhythm by means of their defense while finishing a lot of plays at fast break with half time closing at 38-59.
The game outlook did not change into the third quarter. Olympiacos was leveling on both courts, set the tempo and by playing amazing defense Olympiacos succeeded in sending the difference up to thirty points with the quarter ending 53-58.
Dunston, Collins, Sloukas and Perperoglou played great games, as did Brent Petway. Hence it was very easy for Olympiacos to maintain the difference above 20 points for the biggest part of the fourth quarter. Giorgos Bartzokas let some players rest at the end, tried different faces and round ups and the Back2Back European Champions reached the 89-70 victory with ease.
The quarters: 15-26, 38-59, 53-78, 70-89
Laboral Kutxa (Scariolo): Mainoldi, Nocioni 11 (2), Poeta 7 (1), Van Oostrum 4, Hamilton 1, Diop 10, Hodge 7, Martzinez, Pleiss 4, Heurtel12, Jelinek 12, Causeur 2.
Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Petway 3 (1), Dunston 14, Spanoulis 13 (2 3p., 7as.), Perperoglou 11, Sloukas 9 (1), Collins 5 (1), Simmons, Begic 4, Printezis 9 (1 3p., 7 reb.), Mantzaris 1, Katsivelis 3 (1), Lojeski 17 (3 3p., 6 reb.).
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “We played an excellent game for 30 minutes. I was extremely happy to watch my players play such a good team game. We read the game wright for 30 minutes and it’s important that this performance took place against a very good team like Laboral Kutxa. The truth is we had been hasty in the last quarter, but this was only logical up to a point. Our group is very tough and it’s going to be even tougher, we know that. So we have to maintain mental calm. Regardless whether a defeat or a victory precedes. We have to approach one game at a time till the end of the TOP-16. The TOP-16 is a mini championship of four months and anything can happen. You have to expect anything. You saw what happened in Istanbul at the Anadolu Efes game against Armani and the buzzer beater that won the game, how hard Unicaja fought against Barcelona last night, you saw how Galata won in Munich, as well as how CSKA lost to Partizan last week. Anything can happen in the TOP-16. Laboral Kutxa did not play well tonight, but the TOP-16 is very long. You may witness injuries that can shift balances, wrong thinking and approach of a game, a lot of things that can happen in a mini four months championship. Petway is a very important player for our team, a crucial one I would say, just like he is for his team mates. He’s very important for us and I’m happy he’s back, I wish him health, he’s back and has helped us very much. Now in regard to traveling and the fact that we will not be traveling for a few weeks, there’s not much we can say. This is our life, we play all over the place and we want to enjoy it. The atmosphere has been extraordinary tonight. I wish all the luck to Laboral Kutxa and good luck in the game against Fuenlabrada which I understand is quite crucial”.