First step taken!

Olympiacos bested Panathinaikos at the SEF 71-61 for the first final game of the Stoiximan Basket League and now the series will be transported to the OAKA (14/06, 20.00 CET).

With superb defense, excellent co-operations and absolute domination of the posts, the ‘reds’ built a +19 lead in the first quarter (23-4). Panathinaikos got to react and mainly striking from the perimeter, took the difference down to 10p. (29-19 at 14’). But that was as far as they went… Relying on its defense, Olympiacos regained complete control and closed the first half at +18 (38-20).  

The return of Moustapha Fall on the floor was the reason the difference went up to 23p. (45-22, at 24’), while with the same plan, that of pressing defense, Bartzokas’ players continued dominating the game (55-35) up to 29’. Running a partial 7-0, Panathinaikos brought the difference down to 13p. (55-42 at 32’), however, Sloukas and Fall saw that order was restored (63-44 at 33’). From there on, despite our team submitting a lot of turnovers, steadily controlled the tempo of the game and got a comfortable win.

*Shaquielle McKissic suffered a sprain in his left foot and will undergo an MRI tomorrow (12/06).

The quarters: 23-4, 38-20, 55-38, 74-61.