Olympiacos Triumphs Over Zalgiris in Neophytos Chandriotis Tournament

Olympiacos Triumphs Over Zalgiris in Neophytos Chandriotis Tournament

A Decisive Victory for Olympiacos

In the friendly preparation tournament “Neophytos Chandriotis,” Olympiacos secured a victory against Zalgiris, with a final score of 75-72. This victory was largely driven by key performances from players such as Aleksej Peters, Nikola Milutinov, and Kostas Papanikolaou, under the guidance of coach Giorgos Bartzokas.

Peters and Milutinov Lead the Charge

Aleksej Peters and Nikola Milutinov, both of whom were part of the main five decided by coach Giorgos Bartzokas, played a pivotal role in leading Olympiacos to victory. Milutinov achieved a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Peters emerged as the top scorer with 19 points, concurrently collecting 7 rebounds. With these impressive stats, both players significantly contributed to the team’s win.

Next Challenge: Maccabi

The next challenge for Olympiacos is against Maccabi, scheduled for September 23, at 19:00. This match is also part of the Neophytos Chandriotis tournament.

Competitive Gameplay and Key Strategies

Coach Bartzokas possibly instructed Olympiacos’s perimeter players to focus on their tall players, Milutinov and Peters, which proved effective in the early minutes of the game. Zalgiris, despite early team fouls, managed to take a lead in the score, holding it until the end of the first quarter.

In the second period, Bartzokas changed the entire team with Tanoulis’s entry next to Sikma. A counterattack from the Lithuanians put them ahead with 14-21, the biggest difference in the match at that point. However, Olympiacos found answers with Sikma giving the “signal” and Larentzakis and Papanikolaou following, to regain the leading position.

The game was balanced, with both teams competing in a highly competitive match. On the Olympiacos side, Nikola Milutinov made a valuable contribution, achieving a double-double from the third period, dominating near the basket. The match ended with a final score of 75-72 in favour of Olympiacos.

Olympiacos’s Return to Preseason Victories

With a couple of new players joining in, Olympiacos defeated Zalgiris to return to preseason victories. Alec Peters scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Olympiacos Piraeus beat Zalgiris Kaunas. Peters also scored the go-ahead basket with a transition layup for the 73 – 72 with 40 seconds remaining.

Giannoulis Larentzakis added 12 points for Olympiacos while Nikola Milutinov secured 11 points plus 12 rebounds in his first appearance with the Reds since his return to the club this summer. Olympiacos was without center Moustapha Fall and guard Shaq McKissic, and swingman Ignas Brazdeikis was out for Zalgiris.

Earlier, Maccabi Tel Aviv had beaten Crvena Zvezda after two overtime periods. Olympiacos will face Maccabi on Saturday while Zalgiris will clash vs. Zvezda.