Baskonia loses its magic in the Euroleague
Peñarroya’s men give up their first loss on matchday four against an undefeated Olympiacos
MADRID, 21 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cazoo Baskonia fell (92-97) this Friday against an undefeated Olympiacos in the fourth round of the Euroleague held at the Fernando Buesa Arena, the first European defeat for a Basque team that entered the Greek list of Spanish victims.
One of the two was going to know the defeat this Friday and it was Joan Peñarroya’s team, who also added the concern of the injury in the last seconds of Markus Howard and before Sedekerskis. This time the American was not the Basque stiletto in a duel of partials and without a final blow for the locals against an aggressive and strong Olympiacos despite being a double match week, with Vezenkov (26 points) and Sloukas (20), outstanding.
The Basque team seems capable of everything this season and they showed it in a first half in which they did not start well at all but managed to leave a spectacular second quarter to go 47-42 at halftime. Olympiacos entered much better led by Vezenkov and McKissic, in addition to the feeling of being in the fight with intensity.
Baskonia missed a couple of throw-ins, ran as the rival wanted and, on top of that, left a 1 of 8 in triples. The best team in the Euroleague in that facet was at times without resources, while the disadvantage grew (6-21). The second quarter brought a different Baskonia, with help in defense and character.
Sedekerskis and Raieste served that battle that Peñarroya surely requested, the locals also found Kotsar inside, and signed a 31-10 partial that turned the tables, despite the fact that the triple still did not enter (2 of 14) .
The second half was animated in that sense, with an exchange in which Vezenkov shone to the local misfortune (67-57). Hommes added to Peñarroya but the local squad lost an important soldier with a physical mishap by Sedekerskis. Baskonia ended up losing control at the beginning of the last quarter (74-79).
Sloukas and Larentzakis decided the match in favor of the Greeks, in a 5-18 run after six minutes. The Greek defense stifled a Baskonia team that was looking for the epic as it did against Partizan with Howard’s first three-pointer after Peñarroya’s timeout. The American had no continuity and Fall fell on top of him.
The visiting tower, also decisive with a couple of vital rebounds, left the rival striker out of action and Olympiacos saved their small income despite the Basques’ fight. Those from Vitoria already know the defeat, against a Greek team that has been loaded at this start to Barça, Real Madrid and now Baskonia.
–RESULT: CAZOO BASKONIA, 92 – OLYMPIACOS, 97. (47-42, at halftime).
CAZOO BASKONIA: Thompson (9), Marinkovic (12), Giedraitis (7), Hommes (12) and Kotsar (16) –initial quintet–; Howard (11), Costello (6), Sedekerskis (15), Kurucs (-), Raieste (4).
OLYMPICS: Walkup (8), Canaan (5), Vezenkov (26), McKissic (12) and Fall (6) — the starting quintet– Sloukas (20), Bolomboy (2), Peters (3), Larentzakis (11). ), Lountzis (-), Black (4).
–REFEREES: Boltauzer, Bissang and Kowalski. Without eliminated.
–PAVILLION: Fernando Buesa Sand.
