1-0 lead over AEK in a packed SEF

In an incredible atmosphere created by around 13,000 fans, Olympiacos defeated AEK 94-77 to take a 1-0 lead in the semifinal series. At a sold-out SEF, the team’s supporters also gave the Red & Whites a standing ovation for winning the EuroLeague title.

Twelve minutes before tip-off, our Presidents, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, brought the prestigious trophy onto the SEF's court, and the fans passionately celebrated Olympiacos as the banner for the club’s 4th European title in history was raised.

The top scorer for our team was Alec Peters with 17 points, while Vezenkov (13), Dorsey (10), Hall (13), and Jones (10) also scored in double figures.

Giorgios Bartzokas started the game with Walkup, Dorsey, Papanikolaou, Vezenkov, and Hall, but Olympiacos had a sluggish start and quickly fell behind 1-6. Tyler Dorsey ended the team’s early offensive struggles, scoring 8 points in the opening quarter and becoming the game’s leading scorer during that stretch.

Monte Morris replaced Thomas Walkup and immediately became part of the team’s offensive rhythm, knocking down 2 threes. However, the absolute highlight of the game was Sasha Vezenkov’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer from midcourt. The EuroLeague MVP gave Olympiacos a 7-point lead (26-19) with that incredible shot.

Before the second quarter began, the Olympiacos crowd gave Alec Peters a huge ovation, and once the game resumed, he responded in style. The American forward scored 8 quick points to push the lead beyond 15, but a poor stretch by our team late in the first half allowed AEK to cut the deficit to 8 (46-38) by halftime.

In the third quarter, Olympiacos attacked mainly through the paint. Hall and Vezenkov first, followed by Tyrique Jones, finished efficiently around the basket, and the European champions restored a double-digit lead despite not playing at their best. Vezenkov scored 10 points in the quarter, and Olympiacos closed it leading by 14 (71-57).

In the final 10', with the lineup of Morris, Ntilikina, Ward, Peters, and Jones, Olympiacos raised its level and extended the lead to 22 points (84-62). However, AEK responded with a 7-0 run to reduce the gap once again.

In the second half of the final quarter, Omiros Netzipoglou entered the game and soon enough he became the 12th player on the roster to score. At the final buzzer, the crowd applauded each of the European champions one by one, as our team eventually secured a 94-77 victory.

The quarters: 26-19, 46-38, 71-57, 94-77.