Euroleague Day 12
Olympiakos
real Madrid
Olympiacos and Real Madrid met again six months after the Euroleague final, which the Whites won in Kaunas with Llull’s last basket (78-79). This time the venue was the Peace and Friendship Pavilion in Piraeus, the first Greek stop for Chus Mateo’s team before visiting neighboring Panathinaikos this Thursday. There were also new faces (Campazzo) and some weight absences (Sloukas and Vezenkov left Bartzokas’ group this summer). But the result was the same. After falling behind by one point against Fenerbahçe (100-99), Madrid rose with 23 points from Musa and 18 points and 10 rebounds from Hezonja.
The Spanish team, an offensive arsenal, started with Causeur in its ranks to handcuff the red-and-white shooters, although the visitors found an ally in the Greeks’ mistakes from the touchline: seven missed threes in a row until a bingo from Larentzakis . On the outside, the locals, usually sharp from distance, had no success, and on the inside was Tavares Tavares, a colossus, although this time he had a 7-foot drop in front of him. The Cape Verdean giant enjoyed the close distance, comfortably had to cover fewer meters and celebrated nine points in the first quarter (19-23).
Alocén returned to the Euroleague. Chus Mateo switched on the fan of the changes, a scenario in which the duel is usually even. Llull got the stands moving, Hezonja froze them with his amazing technique and Olympiacos remained unfazed by the three-pointer (27-33). With Tavares reserved, the Greek team fought back with numerous offensive rebounds (11 in the first half) and white turnovers, characterized by acceleration. With a 7-0 run they reached the break alive: 36-37. A battle broke out in Piraeus.
Campazzo took control again and Musa seemed to add a lot of points to the basket. Fall competed with Tavares in The Heights, a strange film in Europe. And the defense pressed every field. The game was worthy of a repeat of the European Cup final. The champion lost control for a moment (47-45), with Bartzokas’ boys inspired by the catches under the rim. Campazzo and Musa then rebelled, led by the Bosnian striker in a trance with 16 points in the third quarter, four triples (57-61).
With another external spark from Musa, the final attack began and Walkup responded with the same medicine. Deck and Hezonja, along with Tavares, had stemmed the bleeding from the rebound in a very close final (68-69). The Greeks went all or nothing and ran on the edge (9 of 33). With the wisdom of Campazzo and the intimidating defense of Tavares, it was enough for Madrid to show who the champions are.
OLYMPIAKOS, 71; R. MADRID, 77
Olympiacos: Walkup (17), Canaan (7), Papanikolau (8), Peters (8), Fall (10) – starting team –; Lountzis (1), Larentzakis (9), Brazdeikis (2), Milutinov (4), Sikma (0) and Mckissic (5).
Real Madrid: Campazzo (9), Causeur (0), Musa (23), Ndiaye (5), Tavares (11) – starting team –; Alocén (0), Hezonja (18), Poirier (0), Llull (6) and Deck (5).
Partials: 19-23, 17-14, 21-24 and 14-16.
Referee: Belosevic, Hordov and Rossi. Walkup was eliminated for personal fouls.
Pavilion of Peace and Friendship.
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