TOGETHER we are going to fight for the F4!

Olympiacos came an inch away from clinching a ticket to Belgrade, but was not able to secure it. The ‘reds’ lost in Monte Carlo to Monaco 77-78 and we are now going to be fighting TOGETHER in Wednesday’s game (04/05) at the SEF to qualify for the Euroleague Final Four.

With good defense and Kostas Papanikolaou leading the offense, Olympiacos got to lead with 6p. (6-12) at 5’. Monaco, nevertheless reacted and relying on Mike James tied the score 19-19 at the end of the first quarter.

The hosts led even by 4p. (27-23), however, the ‘reds’ – despite their poor shooting from the free throw line – attacked back… They put pressure in the defense, minimized creation for Obradovic’ players and with Kostas Sloukas leading ran a partial 17-5 that gave them a +8 lead, 32-40 at 18’. They also succeeded in steadily maintaining the lead up until the end of the first half (38-42).

With Fall dominating the posts, our team increased the distance to 11p. for the first time (38-49) at 22’. The hosts took advantage of the ‘reds’ bad decision making in the offense together with the gaps in their defense and closed in to one point (51-52). Olympiacos regained control (51-57), but only temporarily, since nothing worked right after that in either end of the floor, resulting in Monaco getting ahead with a partial 19-4 (+9, 7-61, 32’).

Our team refused to give up though… Papanikolaou and Vezenkov took over and with a 10-0 partial, our team once again got in the driver’s seat (70-71 at 35’). The game became a first class derby, with Bacon’s bucket 50” before the final buzzer being the one that awarded the win to Monaco (78-77), since he later on missed a shot for 2p. 15’’ before the end, while Sloukas missed in his attempt for a three at the buzzer.

The quarters: 19-19, 38-42, 65-61, 78-77.