The European Champion falls also at the SEF!
OIympiacos have outdone themselves once gain! Despite the absentees (Sloukas, Peters and Papas), they beat Anadolu Efes 76-70 and remain at the top of the Euroleague ranking.
With good defense and Moustapha Fall dominating both posts, the ‘red & whites’ set the tempo from the start and despite their poor percentages from the free throw line (2/7) they got to build a +12 lead (18-6) at 8’. Efes tried to chip away the difference striking from the distance, but they stumbled on Michalis Lountzis who was in the zone… The international guard, who closed the first half with 11p. (1/2 2p., 3/3 3p., 5 rebounds and only 1 turnover), had a major input into our team not only maintaining control, but rather increase the distance even further (+15, 40-25 at 18’). However, in the last two minutes of the first half, Vasilije Micic ‘punished’ the turnovers and the bad decisions Olympiacos was making and the guests closed in to 10p. (41-31).
In the second half, it was the turn for Sasha Vezenkov to open fire and together with the excellent defense the ‘red & whites’ were playing, the lead opened up to 16p. (59-43 at 28’). At that point though, the Turkish team fought back… They pushed back in defense, took advantage of the turnovers the hosts were making and with a partial 15-2 they close in to 3p. (61-58) at 32’. Olympiacos though knew how to make it to the end. They put their money in defense, got some big shots from Sasha Vezenkov and got his 16th win in this season’s Euroleague.
The quarters: 22-13, 41-31, 59-52, 76-70.
OLYMPIACOS
EFES
