Skip to main content

Vitoria “sacked”

Playing their best game this season, the Greek and European Champions won their second consecutive game on the road and have a strong chance of qualifying to the Euroleague TOP16.

Playing their best game this season, the Greek and European Champions won their second consecutive game on the road and have a strong chance of qualifying to the Euroleague TOP16.


Following the victory against Armani in Milan, the Giorgos Bartzokas team left Vitoria a winner as well, playing an even better game against Caja Laboral.

The ‘reds’, who can’t complain about the performance of anyone of their players, had Kyle Hines and Josh Powell on terrific night, while Kostas Papanikolaou and Vassilis Spanoulis were also great just like a week ago on Milan.

Olympiacos began well and although the Basques also entered the game strong, the Piraues team brought the game where they wanted it. The ‘reds’ completely controlled the game at the end of the first half and broadened the difference from 10 to 22 points at the beginning of the second half.

Τhe quarters: 19-22, 40-47, 51-69, 72-89

Per quarter: 19-22, 21-25, 11-22, 21-20

Caja Laboral (Ivanovic): Nocioni 12 (1/1 3p.), Rochestie, Bjelica Μ. 3 (1), Cabezas 2, San Emeterio 12 (2/5 3p.), Pleiss 4, Heurtel 11 (1 3p, 4 reb), Oleson 13 (3/3 3p.), Lampe 9, Causeur 6.

Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Hines 18 (9/11 2p.), Law 4, Antic 9 (1/4 3p.), Spanoulis 14 (3/7 3p.), Perperoglou, Sloukas 7 (2/2 3p.), Mavroeidis, Powell 12, Printezis 11 (1/2 3p.), Papanikolaou 13 (1/3 3p, 9reb), Mantzaris 1.

GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: Obviously this was a crucial step for us. We had two games away from home, in Milan and here, in which we showed character and quality. Caja said before the game that it was like a final’s game for them. We had answers to everything and moreover, we controlled the pace in the end which is more important when you play against Spanish teams. With 10 more assists and with the general picture of stats as stepping ground it was difficult for us to lose today. We thank the team for the great hospitality and for the amazing atmosphere. Our best wishes to Caja Laboral.

It wasn’t an easier win than we had expected. We said in the locker room that we had to pressure Caja Laboral. We said that we should have paid attention to defense and run the offense and if we didn’t we should’ve run our plays correctly. In half-time we noted that we should correct the easy mistakes we did in the first half.
Kyle Hines was everywhere today, he was extraordinary.

ΚOSTAS PAPANIKOLAOU: We played a very good game and we are becoming better as the time passes. We had a talk with the guys a few days ago and realized that our mistake has been trying to do much more than needed resulting in losing our distinctive roles. We realized that we won the Euroleague last season because each one of us was doing certain things on the floor and we have to stick to the same routine this season.

KYLE HINES: I think that I wasn’t the key part of the win; it was the team defense. I am fast and I tried to help my teammates. I just followed my coaches’ plan.

We’re still getting used to the philosophy of our coach and he’s getting used to our philosophy. We showed that we have adapted to it in the last two games, as we knew that they were important and we played like we know and can. As a team. We still have a long way in front of us though and we can play even better.

Highlights...
Photo Gallely... {myFlickr}feed=photoset, photoset_id=72157632027194753, layout=table, columns=3, style=css6, gallery=lightbox{/myFlickr}