A win in Valencia! (vid)
Olympiacos continued the tradition of winning in Valencia! The ‘reds’ bested the ‘taronjas’ 88-79, for the 31st round of the Euroleague, in a game that the Spaniards were in desperate need of winning to maintain their chances of qualifying to the playoffs.
Relying on their good defense and good perimeter percentages, the ‘reds’ set the tempo and closed the first quarter at +4 (19-23), with zero turnovers in the quarter.
The Bartzokas’ players got an ‘A’ in defense in the second quarter as well, at the same time though, they performed seminar ball movement (their 14 assists attest to that), went to good choices in the offense and skyrocketed the margin (+16, 28-44).
The half time score, 31-44, was written by Labeyrie at 19’ with a three, since during the last minute, both teams lost all contact with the bucket.
Giorgos Printezis gave an offensive recital in the third quarter and with Sasha Vezenkov being a close second, Olympiacos ‘closed’ the 3rd quarter at +33 (41-74). However, what it took them three quarters to build, almost came tumbling down in the final stretch.
The ‘reds’ disheveled and Valencia succeeded to close in at 8p. (71-79 at 38’) following a barrage of threes (a total of 9 in the last quarter) and then at 7 points (74-82 at 39’). But even though in the latest hour, Bartzokas’ players ‘woke up’, made some good defensive plays, scored and got the win.
* Aaron Harrison did not play due to lower back problems.
The quarters: 19-23, 31-44, 41-74, 79-88.
