One of the worst European nights in its history was lived by PAOK, knowing the crash with 105-78 from Strasbourg in France, in the first games between them for the play-ins of the Basketball Champions League.
The “Bicep of the North” paid them absences that he had, but also her lack of competitive rhythm with the many training sessions lost due to the many cases of coronavirus that have plagued the team in the past. In fact, at no point in the match could he follow the rhythm of the French, knowing a tough but fair defeat.
But nothing has been lost yet for the team of Aris Lykogiannis, as well as the next one Wednesday (12/01) hosts Strasbourg in Pylaia in the second match of the series, where they will play for her last “paper” to qualify for the “16” phase of the institution.
Leading the winners was Jarel Eddy with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while Bohacic and Udano added 20 and 17 points respectively.
For the Thessalonians only o Marvin Jones with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Toliopoulos (18 points, 6/9 three points), DiLeo (14 points) and Lov (10 points) were also in double digits.
The match
PAOK started with them Love, Mantzari, DiLeo, Kamberidi and Jones in his starting five, in one otherwise bad defensively first ten minutes. Aris Lygkogiannis’s team faced serious problems in its regional defense, as the French aimed at 7/12 shots attempted from behind 6.75 meters.
Strasbourg started with a quick one 8-0 series in the first two minutes, with Thessaloniki finding rhythm then by hand Lov and staying close to the score (15-12 at 6 ‘and 21-18 at 8’). Somewhere there, however, Eddie did what he wanted PAOK’s defense and with 7 personal points, the hosts closed the ten minute period at +12 for 30-18.
The lack of rhythm and training – due to the many cases that were found in his ranks in the previous period – was more than obvious for the players of PAOK, who found it unimaginably difficult to follow the rhythm of the French.
Bohachik and Eddie continued in the second period to find with great ease the way to the Greek basket, launching the difference up to the +24 (53-29), with the half to end with 57-34. For PAOK, the only ones who were saved in the first 20 minutes were Jones and Love with 10 and 8 points.
As far as he is concerned Dimitri Rivers remained in the … shallows on his debut with just 3 points and an equal number of assists, while he was sent off with five fouls.
Completely different scene in third period, with PAOK coming out on the floor of “Rhenus Sport” with … a clear mind and determined to reverse the situation to its detriment. Aris Lykogiannis’s team found rhythm through the good and tough defense, and with Toliopoulos scoring three consecutive three-pointers (!), They ran an impressive series 14-0 thus lowering the difference to ten and 66-56 in 26 ‘!
At that point, and while he had taken the momentum, the “Northern Biceps” wronged itself as it made continuous mistakes, with the result that Strasbourg found 11 points in the last two minutes for the +18 of the period (77-59).
Naturally, this development was and the … gratuitous shot in the psychology of PAOK, who in the last period could not keep the difference, with the French even escaping with +33 (102-69). In fact, the tension and the nerves in PAOK hit … red, with Aris Lykogiannis being sent off with a second technical penalty. The final 105-78 Toliopoulos scored a three-pointer from the center of the field at the end of the match.
The quarters: 30-18, 57-34, 77-59, 105-78
Watch here … the film of the match.
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
