The ticket to the semis secured
Olympiacos had no problems beating Kymi in Chalkida 88-67, 'swept' the series 2-0 and has secured participating the semis of the STOIXIMAN.GR Basket League, where he will be playing on a home court advantage the winner of the Prometheus - Lavrio winner.
With good defense and dominating the rebounds, our team imposed the tempo and built a 10p. surplass (11-21) at 9'. However, the 'reds' weren't able to hold on to it… Kymi "struck" from the three point arc and made a one point game (28-29, at 16'). Janis Strelnieks (who had 3/3 threes in the first half) and Vangelis Mantzaris, 'paid' them back accordingly and got the difference back to +8 (30-38). However, the hosts run a partial 7-2 and closed in at 3p. (37-40), at the end of the first half.
The hosts went ahead in the score at 22' for the first and last time in the game (42-41). The 'reds' reaction was however imminent, they put pressure on the defense, opened fire from the 6.75m. arc and with a partial 22-5 sent the difference to +16p. (47-63, at 29'). And they didn't stop there… With good defense and offensive polyphony increased the distance even farther (+27, 59-86 at 38') and won the game.
The quarter: 13-21, 37-40, 49-63, 67-88
Κymi (Kastritis): Μanolopoulos 3 (1), Jones 3 (1), McGhee 13 (7 reb), ΜcFadden 15 (2), Smith 13 (2), Geromichalos, Τsagkarakis, Glyniadakis 8, Vilhjalmsson, Margelis 1, Kyser 6, Barlos 5 (1).
Οlympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Spanoulis 4 (5 as.), Papanikolaou 3(1), Roberts 7(1), Bogris 7 (9 reb.), Wiltjer 8 (2), McLean 12 (6 reb.), Brown 3 (1), Τoliopoulos 3(1), Papapetrou 8, Strelnieks 16 (4), Printezis 4, Mantzaris 14 (3 3p., 6 reb.).
"We need to stop looking backwards"
Giannis Sfairpoulos commented: "We have been working well at practices. It's a fact that despite making a good beginning in our previous game, we relaxed afterwards. We were more focused tonight. We made a rather good beginning. We built a difference, Kymi returned to the game at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, however, if you see the numbers, we almost had a double score in the third quarter as well (23-12). We scored 48 points in the second half, with 26 assists for 3 turnovers. I think the team played a good defensive game. Kymi is an athletic team with good chemistry. They had been in a really good shape during the last games of the regular season and they began the playoffs with a lot of excitement. Congrats to Kymi and first of all to its administration for supporting this team. It's very important for the League to have teams situated outside the main metro areas. Mr. Kastritis and his staff deserve the credit for a job well done. It's not easy for such a team to be making the playoffs. Also, congrats to the Kymi players for trying really hard. They have had a successful year and I wish them the best".
Asked on whether Olympiacos is still trying to recover for not making the Euroleague Final Four, he replied: Life goes on… We all wanted to go to the Final Four, but we are not there… We need stop whining and continue working. I don't have any complaints from my players and their work ethic. The important thing is for us to find our confidence and tempo once again. We've been working well. We need to be a little calmer and more focused".
On whether he has regretted stating that he was ashamed of the team outlook after game one, he made clear that : "No… I'm ashamed for myself… Not for the players. I'm responsible for the outlook it was really disappointing. When the team plays that way it's as if we are not even practicing. I don't regret it… No one deserves this image. First of such high level players… The coaches… Everyone working for the team. I think that we have all understood that, myself before everyone else, that we need to keep working… I think this was obvious today. We need to be calm, have confidence and support one another. We need to be together just like we were today. If we do this, the team is going to be getting better. We can't ignore that this team has played great games this season, it has won big time. We need to stop looking backwards and move on".
On Nikola Milutinov: "He has begun a personal program. He will be entering the team schedule gradually. We still don't know when this is going to be … ".