He liked offensively, but Olympiacos struggled defensively in his dress rehearsal

He won, but showed that he still needs a lot of work Olympic!

One week before the start of the official competition obligations and their participation in Rhodes Super Cupthe “red and white” prevailed very hard with 95-90 of the struggling Trapani Sharks in Italy, thus closing this year’s pre-season friendlies with absolute victories.

Indicative of the image of the match was the fact that one minute before the final, the Italian club equalized at 90-90, with Peters coming forward and three-pointer in the next phase to make it 93-90, before Sasha Vezenkov from the penalty line set up the final score.

His team Giorgos Bartzokas showed quite a good face offensively, finding solutions and scores from many players, but also from all positions. However, defensively he brought up many issues, which will trouble the Greek coach and his colleagues, a few days before the match with Peristeri for the Super Cup semi-finals. Sure, the fatigue from practices, but also the lack of chemistry and automation at the mercy of the season played an important role, however, the too many mistakes (19 in total), the easy baskets allowed by the defense, but also the slow returns, was something that needs to be worked on .

Top scorer of the “red and whites” with 23 points was Sasha Vezenkovwhile Philip Petrushev scored 13, Thomas Walkup scored 12 and from 10 Alec Peters and Evan Fournier. From Trapani, the top scorer with 25 points was Robinson.

The match:

THE Olympicwho started the match with Walkup, Dorsey, Papanikolaou, Vezenkov and Petrusev in his starting five, entered the offensive piece, which, however, he could not take advantage of, since defensively there were several gaps. It is indicative that the “red and white” started with 3/3 three-pointers from Vezenkov, Walkap and Papanikolaou, with Drill on her part to “respond” and stay close to the score for 10-11 in the first 3 minutes. In fact, the errors of the Greek team allowed the hosts to overtake for the first time in the score in the 6th minute (19-17)before Vezenkov tied it at 19-19, reaching them 11 points! The cheap errors in the attack, but also the lack of defensive concentration of the Piraeus, maintained the small lead of the Italians, who ended the first period with a lead short-headed (25-24).

In its beginnings second quarterhis team Giorgos Bartzokas she showed finding her feet, running one 9-2 run in the first 3 minutes, and with the baskets of Peters, Fournier, Wright and Wildosa, he did 27-33. Then, the Drill he also reacted with the excellent Robinson (16 points in the half), but also Alibekovics and Note, often found the way to the “red and white” basket very easily, staying close to the score. Towards the end of the period, Thomas Walkup went ahead and with three 3-pointers in a span of 1.5 minutes (!), Olympiacos led 44-49, before Petrusev and Robinson set up the 48-51 of the first half.

With him Tyler Dorsey starting “hot” in the third period and scoring 7 collected points, Olympiacos took the lead with +8 (50-58) at 22′while a little later, the Vezenkov with his 15th point in the match he made it 53-60. Somewhere there, came the… excessive relaxation of the players of the Greek team, who made repeated mistakes, allowing Trapani to find a rhythm. The Italians took advantage of the lack of a clear mind of Piraeus and with a 10-0 run in 1.5 minutes they overtook the score for 63-60 at 24′! Barzoka’s timeout somewhat put together the picture for Olympiakos, who then got some nice partnerships on offense with receiver Sasha, who with six points made the 66-68 at 26′. Four points by Alibekovic put Trapani in front again (70-68), so that the Fournier and with his second three-pointer of the match to make it 70-71, before Petrusev from the throw line made the 70-73 of the period.

In fourth and final period, the game went to a slower pace, due to the many fouls, but also the fatigue that existed in both teams. The Italians initially reduced to 72-73, before o Vildosa with three points and Fournier with four shots, send Olympiakos at +8 and 72-80 at 33′. Note and Peters “exchanged” shots behind the 6.75m. for 75-83, with Repesa’s team then finding some big baskets, cutting the match short to 82-85 at 37′. In fact, the Italians not only reduced, but they even tied it at 90-90 one minute before the end! Somewhere there, Peters came forward and made it 93-90 with a three-pointer, then Vezenkov came to form the final 95-90 from the shot line.

The quarters: 25-24, 48-51, 70-73, 90-95.

Trapani (Repesa): Horton 13, Notte 16, Robinson 25, Rosato 5, Alibegovic 10, Galloway 8, Petrucelli, Yeboa 13, Gentile, Pallucci

Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Walkup 12, Williams-Goss 2, Wright 5, Mitrou-Long, Larentzakis 3, Vildosa 7, Vezenkov 23, Papanikolaou 3, Dorsey 7, Peters 10, Petrusev 13, Fournier 10