Milutinov: “We didn’t give up and went out in the second half ready for battle”

Olympiacos dominated Panathinaikos 90-86 in the first big derby of the year for Stoiximan GBL. Despite the bad image in the first half and the lead of the “greens” with 12 points, the “reds” overthrew the situation in the second half, making more energy and passion at critical times.

As admitted the Nikola Milutinov After the end of the match, the match may not have been qualitative, but the determination of Olympic And the need for victory measured more, giving Piraeus team a scoring and psychological lead.

In detail his statements:

For the importance of victory: “It was the victory that matters. We put the team in a good position in the Greek league. I don’t think we played well today either of both teams. We had both many problems and injuries but what counts the most in such cases is to win games and show how good we are. “

To change their game in the second half: “In the first half we were very bad defensive, we received 48 points, and they did what they wanted in the game, aggressively scored three -pointers, and we didn’t play hard on our part, and when you didn’t play hard against them they win. It is one of the most talented teams in Europe and showed their quality in the first half of the game. Fortunately in the second half we were better and we won the game. “

For his reaction to the second quarter: “I didn’t feel very well today, I was a little tired of everything, I wanted to take the fans with me, to give me energy too.”

For -12 and overthrow in the fourth quarter: “Basketball is a 40 -minute game. Everything happens in the second half of the game and as I said before in the first half we were in very bad condition especially in defense. But we didn’t give up, we tried to get the game under our control and in the second half we went out on the parquet much more ready for battle. And most importantly the victory for us. “