A show in Kazan!

Olympiacos was magnificent in Kazan where they beat Unics 90-75.

Olympiacos made an otherworldly beginning in the game. With threes following one another, the ‘res’ were leading 13-33 at the end of the first quarter, having scored 7/10 threes and playing great defense, hence keeping the Euroleague’s top scorer (Keith Langford) with zero points.

In the second quarter, Olympiacos once again began with the foot on the accelerator. Green and Agravanis sent the different at +27 and Unics seemed not only unable to react, but to even try and keep up with the Greek Champions tempo. Milutinov and Birch were totally controlling the two posts, Papapetrou and Papanikolaou were doing an excellent job, while Mantzaris and Waters were organizing and executing with extreme concentration for the 36-56 at half-time.

Eric Green was the one to set the pace in the third quarter. Unics’s sole threat was Keith Langford, and the Greek Champions were leading 53-67 at 27’ while the third quarter ended 54-69. In the last quarter, the home team began the game somewhat better and with a partial 7-0 closed in 61-69 at 34’. At the moment the Russians seemed to be believing in the upset, Giorgos Printezis and Nikola Milutinov stepped up, with Green and Papanikolaou following their lead and with a partial 7-18 stretch, sent the difference once again to +19 (68-87) deciding the game. Agravanis was the one to write the final score (75-90) with a three from down nine meters distance.

THE POINTS
The quarters: 13-33, 36-56, 54-69, 75-90.
Unics Kazan (Pashutin):  Johnson 2, Antypov 19 (4), Clark, Langford 25 (3), Stoll 3 (1), Parakshouski 14, Banic 4, Voronov 2, Panin 2, Kaimakoglou 4, Williams 2.
Οlympiacos (Sfairopoulos):  Green 25 (3 3p, 3reb, 2as), Birch 4 (6reb), Papapetrou,  Waters 5 (1 3p, 2reb, 2st), Agravanis 6 (2), Milutinov 11 (7reb, 1as), Printezis 20 (3 3p, 4reb), Papanikolaou 10 (2 3p, 4as), Mantzaris 9 (3 3p, 3reb, 6as, 2st).

THE QUOTES
GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS: “It was a very good game on our part. We surprised Unics with our first quarter and with our first half overall. Unics is a home court team as I had said before the game, but we did not allow them to score, we kept them low, our offensive tempo was great and this was the reason for our excellent three point percentage. At half-time, we said that Unics was going to try to react, we expected them to put pressure on us and that’s exactly what happened”, the Greek coach originally said.

 “I tip my hat to my players”

Next, the Olympiacos coach talked about the counter attack of the Russian team. “In the third quarter we had a hard time due to the tough defense Unics was playing, but after a while and through our defense, we found the right path. We played better in our offense and this gave us a big lead once again. The game was as close as to seven points, that was a very crucial part, but our defense was what helped us find rhythm on both ends of the floor. I think we overall controlled the game, we played one of our best games tonight and for that warrior attitude of my players, I tip my hat to them. I would like to thank the Olympiacos fans for coming here and supporting us and our Presidents for offering this charter flight and gave the chance to the players to feel rested. I wish to coach Pashutin and to Unics all the best».

ERIC GREEN: “We played an overall great game. We played great team defense but also amazing in the offense and I think we played a great game tonight, a top notch game. The coach made a lot of plays for me, my team mates passed the ball well, they allowed for me to take open shots a lot of times. It was a great night, an excellent team performance, it wasn’t just me. It’s not that I but the ball in the basket, our big guys did an excellent job, Papanikolaou and Papapetrou were amazing guarding Langford and everybody played amazingly well and got a team victory”.