Bartzokas: “What happened last year with Peters is happening this year with Sikmas – He is very important for the team”

Playing amazing defense in the second half and having versatility in attack, o Olympic “swallow” her Alba (67-94), closing with a positive sign in 2023 and the 1st round of the Euroleague!

After the match, George Bartzokas he spoke at the press conference referring to his team’s poor start but also their very satisfactory performance from one point onwards. At the same time, he noted its great value Luke Sikma and underlined the similarities of his case with his own Alec Peters last season.

In detail what he said:

“I want to talk about the atmosphere, a lot of people, good game with our people who came to support us to end the year in this way. We were ready, we knew Alba is in good form, it was coming from a win against Barcelona. We started out relaxed, to be honest. We were rushing the offense, committed just five fouls and while we had a chance to stop their transition, we conceded nine 3-pointers.

Our defense in the second half was solid, we changed the strategy and everyone adjusted. We had 30 assists. For any coach, this behavior is very important. Last year we had the Euroleague MVP and it was difficult for Peters to find a rhythm and show his talent. It’s the same with Sikma this year, because Peters knows our system and plays very well. The presence of Sikmas in the team is very important everywhere, in the dressing room and on the floor, he will have the opportunities to show his potential, he is a very experienced player.”