Easy qualification to the Semis
Olympiacos bested Faros in Larissa 97-67 and got the ticket to the Greek Cup semi finals.
The 'reds' were leading 7-0, however, their bad defensive operation allowed the hosts to run a partial 8-2 and make a one point game (8-9). At 8' our team was trailing by 3 (25-22), but thanks to its good perimeter shooting regained the lead, closed the 1st quarter leading 28-25 and with Strelnieks executing from the 6.75m. arc, sent the difference to +13 (44-31).
Faros took advantage of the defensive loop holes in our team and closed in at 5 (41-46), however, the Sfairopoulos' players maintained control and built a 9 point lead (50-41 at 20').
Based to the good movement of the ball the 'reds' got to +16 (63-47 at 27') for the first time, the hosts took that lead down to 9 (54-63), nevertheless, our team's answer was immediate… With a 6-0 streak the 3rd quarter ended at +15 (69-54), while the 4th quarter was rather procedural (the 30 points difference for the final 67-97 was the greatest in the game).
Giorgos Bogris and Nikos Arsenopoulos did not make the game roster. Brian Roberts stayed at home due to injury.
Before the jump ball, the hosts honored the native 'reds' Vasilis Spanoulis, Vangelis Koutsoukeras and Andreas Gatzoulis.
The quarters: 25-28, 41-50, 54-69, 67-97.
Faros (Skourtopoulos): Draper 2, Papamakarios, Maragkos 2, Mouratos 10, Ware 6, Diamantakos 6, Chatzikyriakidis 2, Schaftenaar 18 (2), Conner 5, Vavatsikos 5 (1), Papantoniou 6, Forbs 5 (1).
Οlympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Τoliopoulos, McLean 4 (1reb, 3as), Papapetrou 2 (1reb), Spanoulis 7 (1/7 3p, 4as), Papanikolaou 10 (4/5 2p, 7reb), Mantzaris 5 (1 3p, 6as, reb), Agravanis 9 (1 3p, 5reb), Μilutinov 9 (4/5 2p, 1as), Τhompson 15 (1 3p, 9reb, 1as), Strelnieks 16 (2/3 1p, 1/2 2p, 4/4 3p), Tillie 9 (3/3 3p), Printezis 11 (3 reb, 2as).
THE QUOTES
Giannis Sfairopoulos:
"Before I talk about the game, I would like to say that it's very good for Larissa to once again have a team in the first division. It's good because the city of Larissa was always very competitive in the Greek basketball scene and I think the team is going to offer a lot to the local community and the greater area. I wish them all the best. Now, for the game, we began with poor defensive game and received easy points. We gradually got better, we only received 26 points in the second half and it was obvious that we were the better team on the floor.
I can't say this was a test because a knock out game is a totally different game. Sunday game is a derby that have to be ready to play. I think tonight's game will help us with the tempo".
Vasilis Spanoulis:
It's good to be coming home. I have many pleasant memories from here. I have spent my childhood here. We came to play a Cup game and had both good and bad periods. We won at the end and that's what we keep. The only certain thing is that we need to get better.
We play a derby on Sunday, we know that teams are not ready yet, but we'll do our best to win this. I certainly have missed on practices but I believe I'll be ready".