Another win, this time in Valencia!
Olympiacos bested Valencia on the road 92-85, avenging the loss at the SEF in the first round and remained at the top of the Euroleague ranking.
Relying on good shooting from the perimeter, the hosts built a +14 lead very early in the game (23-9 at 8’). Olympiacos was successful in reacting… They put pressure in defense, moved the ball well and with Kostas Papanikolaou and Tarik Black spearheading the offence, they got to tie the score (25-25) at 14’. However, our team got disorganized once again… Lacking good decision making in the offence, they got to make a lot of unforced turnovers, they had gaps in defending and Valencia punished them sending the difference to +15 (45-30). Finally, with a 5-0 partial with McKissic and Vezenkov, Olympiacos closed in at 10p. (45-35).
Our team appeared to be transformed and supercharged in the second half. With good defending, efficient ball movement and good perimeter percentages (with Shaquielle McKissic making the difference on both ends of the floor), the turned the tables (50-52 at 26’) and closed the 3rd quarter at +7 (58-65). And they didn’t stop there… They continued, with a superb Papanikolaou striking from long range and increased their lead to 15p. (58-73 at 34’). With a recital of threes, Valencia closed in at 6p. (69-75 at 36’), however, with a personal 5-0 streak, Sasha Vezenkov restored order (69-80 at 37’). The hosts did not give up the fight (82-88, 28.2’’ before the end), but Olympiacos (despite missed free throws) maintained control and got the win.
The quarters: 25-15, 45-35, 58-65, 85-92.
VALENCIA
OLYMPIACOS
