Another victory for 'Thrylos'
Olympiacos had no problem overcoming the obstacle of Kavala winning 71-57. Tsairelis and Hunter were the top scorers for the guests.
Olympiacos began the game in Kavala in an impressive fashion. The Piraeus team was trailing 5-4 and then run a 12-0 streak not receiving a bucket for six minutes and thus making the score 5-16. Tsairelis and Lojeski were great in offense, Hunter and Strawberry were doing an excellent defensive job and the first quarter was over with the score being 11-24 for the Greek Champions.
In the second quarter, the players of Giannis Sfairopoulos entered the floor without focus and the hosts run a partial 8-0 streak thus making the score 19-24, but it was then Olympiacos turn to run a partial 10-0 which sent the difference to +15 (19-34) and half time ended 32-40.
Olympiacos continued completely controlling the game in the third quarter and maintained the difference at above ten points throughout with the quarter ending 46-58.
In the last quarter, 'Thrylos' maintained a two digit lead. Giannis Sfairopoulos tried different rotations and Olympiacos won with a comfortable 57-71.
The quarters: 11-24, 32-40, 46-58, 57-71.
Kavala (Giatzoglou): Kemp 2, Van Der Mars 8, Kostov 12 (3), Jones 5 (1), Robinson 7 (1), Τapoutos 17 (2), Staboulis, Kalaitzidis 1, Giannakidis 3 (1), Livas 2, Demertzis.
Olympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Strawberry 4 (1 3p, 4reb, 5as, 5st, 1bl), Tsairelis 13 (1 3p, 4reb, 2as, 1st), Milutinov 5 (1reb, 2as, 1st), Mantzaris 6 (2 3p, 3reb, 5as, 2st), Lojeski 10 (5reb, 4as), Hunter 13 (8reb, 1as, 3st), Τoliopoulos, Mouratos, Αgravanis 4 (6reb), Hackett 7 (3reb, 2as), Athinaiou 9 (3 3p, 2reb, 3as).
GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS : "It's an important victory for us, because any game on the road is tough and needs special consideration. Kavala has showed a different face following the change of the head coach. They played very well in the first half against Aris and even better tonight. We had expected a reaction from them because this was their first home game with the new coach. I think that our defense helped us keep control of the game, apart from the second quarter when we got relaxed following the big difference of the first quarter. We also received many threes during that time. We got two digit differences in the second half though and got the victory. Of course you have a disadvantage when you never haveyou're your roster healthy and ready to play. But winning is important. I don't want to focus on the problems though, we always need to be ready as a team, both physically and mentally. We are Olympiacos and we always need to give our best".
MATT LOJESKI: "I'm happy for the victory. It wasn't an easy game. You never know how things are and what's in it for you when you play on the road in Greece. We should have been more focused, especially in the second quarter, when we allowed them to come back to the game. Now that we have many players injured, some guys play more and gain confidence. The tough games are ahead".