A game given away...
Olympiacos – although controlling the game for most of its part – lost at the SEF to Valencia (82-83) for the 6th round of the Euroleague.
The ‘red & white’ set the tempo from the start and built a +9 margin early on (14-5 at 4’). Thanks to their good shooting from the perimeter, Valencia closed in at 3p. (20-17), however, with good defense and Sasha Vezenkov leading the offense, our team closed the first quarter at +8 (28-20). The press from the Spanish team led Bartzokas’ players to turnovers that didn’t cost them though due to their good long range shooting, but also due to their absolute dominance in rebounding (20-5). So, with Kostas Sloukas impeccably directing, Olympiacos not only maintained complete control, but also furthered the distance to 13p. (47-34).
The ‘red and white’ continued succumbing to unforced mistakes, which this time though Valencia punished. The guests once again struck from the perimeter and closed in to 4p. (56-52 at 26’), but Kostas Sloukas’ return to the game once again changed the game. Our team moved the ball with precision, went to good offensive choices and closed the 3rd quarter at +13 (71-58).
In the last quarter though, Olympiacos’ performance took a nose dive, which the Spanish team took completely advantage of, exploiting on gaps in the defense and poor offensive choices, making a one point game (80-79) at 39’.
The last minute...
With one for two free throws, Sloukas made the score 81-79 (14’’ before the end), Jones closed in to 81-80 the same way (with 11.6’’ to go), 10.6’’ before the final buzzer, Sloukas once again went to the “charity” line, where he once again shot one for two (82-80). At about 3.9’’ before the end, Jones (fouled by Vezenkov) made all three of his free throws writing the final 82-83, since the last shot taken by Sloukas missed its target and the refs did not call the foul on Peter’s try for a tip-in.
The quarters: 28-20, 47-34, 71-58, 82-83.
OLYMPIACOS
VALENCIA
