«Neofytos Chandriotis»: Olympiacos – Maccabi Τ.Α. 71-68

Olympiacos beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 71-68 and won first place at the international “Neofytos Chandriotis” tournament.

Despite the absolute dominance of Nikola Milutinov in the paint, the game was balanced up until 6’ (15-15). However, with superb defense and good decision making in the offense that ‘translated’ into a 12-2 partial run, the ‘red & whites’ got to lead by 10 for the first time at 11’ (27-17). Following the same game plan, an especially tight defense and with Milutinov and Sikma heading the offense, Olympiacos upped the lead to 16[/ (45-29), upon wrapping up the first half.

In the second half though, the Israeli team tried for the come back, striking from the three point line (54-47 at 27’). Larentzakis and Peters saw to maintain a safe distance for Olympiacos (64-54) up until 33’. Turnovers, poor choices in the offense and missed lay-ups, gave Maccabi the opportunity to turn – running a partial 3-12 score – the game into a derby, closing in to one point (67-55, 1:48 before the buzzer). ‘Salvation’ for the ‘red & whites’ came through their solid defensive game. Bartzokas’ players put road blocks on the way to the basket and with a 4-0 partial (71-66) practically ended the game. The final score (71-68) was shaped by Baldwin at 3’’ before the end, when everything had been already decided.  

The quarters: 24-17, 45-29, 59-50, 71-68.

OLYMPIACOS (Bartzokas): Walkup (7 as.) , Canaan 9 (1), Papanikolaou 6 (1), Peters 21 (4), Milutinov 12 (8 reb.), Williams - Goss 7 (1), Lountzis, Larentzakis 8 (1), Sikma 8

MACCABI (Kattash): Brown 4, Baldwin 6, Cohen 3 (1), Nebo 8, Colson 10, Cleveland 4, Webb III 15 (3), Manco 3 (1), Sorkin , DiBartolomeo 3 (1), Rivero 7, Blatt 5.