Job done
Olympiacos, although far from his usual standards, bested Peristeri at the SEF 79-67, for the 1st day of the Stoiximan Basket League playoffs.
The ‘reds’ came into the game as if their heads were still in Belgrade… Turnovers, gaps in the defense and bad shots allowed the guests to impose their tempo and close the first quarter at +9 (11-20). They did not stop there … Relying on good perimeter percentages, they took the difference to +13 (13-26 at 12’). With improved defense and Kostas Sloukas and Livio Jean-Charles leading the offense, Olympiacos succeeded (running a partial 15-2) tying the game 28-28 at 17’. Peristeri though had an immediate response and with a partial 7-0 closed the first quarter at +7 (28-35).
In the second half, Sasha Vezenkov took up to run offense for Olympiacos and the team got ahead in the score for the first time in the game at 25’ (41-40) following a three-point play by Walkup (bucket and one). Problems with the defense remained unsolved though… Peristeri found target both from the perimeter, as well as under the rim and reclaimed the lead (48-52 at 29’). Slowly but steadily, the ‘reds’ relying on Sloukas and Vezenkov were able to once again get ahead (59-54 at 32’). Peristeri stayed ‘alive’ relying on its shooting from the perimeter (69-65 at 37’), but with some good defense and patience in the offense, the ‘reds’ got the win.
The quarters: 11-20, 28-35, 51-53, 79-67.
