Olympiacos qualifies for the final
Olympiacos played a great second half for the third semifinal of the Basket League SKRATS against AEK, won 89-75, and swept the series 3-0 qualifying for the finals. Daniel Hackett was the best player for the reds.
The ‘reds’ were not good in the first half and in the beginning of the second one they were even trailing by 17 points (51-34). However, they then ran a partial 10-32 streak and never looked back afterwards completing a victory that gave them the qualification.
THE DEFENSE: The Piraeus team did not play good defense in the first half receiving 41 points during the first 20 minutes of the game. However, in the second half, they closed all paths to the basket, AEK could pass the ball inside the post and they hardly scored 35 points making a total of 75.
THE OFFENSE: Just like their defense, the Piraeus team offense was not good in the first half. However, in the second one, everything changed with the Giannis Sfairopoulos players scoring 58 points in 20 minutes and with four players finishing the game with two digits.
THE MVP: Daniel Hackett. The Italian guard was the absolute protagonist of the game and the one who showed his team mates the way when the team was trailing by 17 amidst the third quarter. Hackett finished the game with 18 points (5/7 1p., 2/5 2p., 3/4 3p.), 2 rebounds, four assists and three steals.
KEEPS, FORGETS: Keeps the excellent reaction from 24’ to the end of the game. Forgets the bad period from 10 to 24’ when they were trailing by 17 points.
THE POINTS
The quarters: 21-18, 41-31, 61-55, 75-89
ΑΕΚ (Ζdovc): Papantoniou 2, Sakota 9 (3), Hairston 10, Μilosevic 7 (1), Μavrokefalidis 8, Carter 9 (1), Brown 17 (2), Κatsivelis 2, Κalampokis 7, Moraitis, Μavroeidis 4, Eric.
Οlympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Hunter 6, Papapetrou 9 (1), Spanoulis 13 (3), Strawberry, Milutinov, Printezis 11 (1), Agravanis 8 (1), Mantzaris 6 (2), Warrick, Hackett 18 (3), Lojeski 14 (1), Papanikolaou 4.
THE QUOTES
GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS: «Congratulations to our players for their character, their effort at the end and the game they played in the last 15 minutes. They were trailing by 17 at 24’, we had a black out, we were receiving easy baskets with penetrations and under the basket and we were not dealing with the game as we should have been, both on a team and on an individual level. We received 25 points in the last 16 minutes and scored 56, the important thing for us is that we turned the game in our favor with a certain rotation and with Spanoulis scoring some big baskets, we built a difference and reached a rather comfortable victory. We keep our fighting spirit, the effort put and the character displayed. Against a team with a very good roster, with a very good coach, a team that has evolved a lot. Good luck to AEK and to the coach».
About the fact that Olympiacos had won the first two games with ease and whether this was in the players’ minds: «This maybe a reason, although we had many times pointed out to the players how good a team AEK is. We knew that and finally saw that the players understood it as well, they reacted, we followed our plan, remained focused, believed in the victory, our defense closed, we got the rebounds, ran in the open court, scored easy points and that boosted our moral and helped us score more easily».
On what the Olympiacos problems was in the first half, defense or offense «They are both intertwined, we were trying to ‘read’ defense more than we should have, we were stalling both into ‘cutting’ inside the post and with moving the ball, we missed free shots and some easy baskets and this brought a lack of concentration and when things don’t go well in offense, defense starts having a problem as well. These two come together and during our good time in the game, as well as during when we weren’t good. We need to learn though how to always play defense».
On Matt Lojeski’s performance: «He’s not 100% yet, it was his first game, he was still sluggish, but he was better when he came on the floor for the second time tonight, which proves he still has not found rhythm. He’s at a good level and it’s certain that with practices and game by game he’s going to be getting better and will reach 100%».
ΙOANNIS PAPAPETROU: «Congratulations to AEK for the effort, The difference was big in all three games, but AEK was really fighting for the game. We played hard, in the last 15 minutes for the third game we executed our plan to a t, we had a lot of energy, we turned the game in our favor and qualified for the finals. We are now seeking some rest and will focus on our next opponent in the finals».
YURI ZDOVC: «Congratulations to Giannis Sfairopoulos. They proved why they belong among the greatest teams in Europe. They gradually improved their performance and dismantled us in the end. We gradually just disappeared. Olympiacos has 12 players with great motivation. We are in a good path, but we showed our weaknesses that are difficult to get better. We need to believe in our plan and be better in the games against Aris».
On the fact that AEK got ‘deflated’ in the end and lost the lead «It seems to be a psychological problem and we seem to be afraid to beat these teams. Olympiacos has definitely scored some improbable threes, but we allowed them this chance with some stupid reactions. I tried a lot of things to prevent that. We need not get disappointed, there is still the third place goal ahead of us».