By Giannis Rammas/ [email protected]
This was Olympiakos’ second preseason game, considering the victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv (84-83) at SEF (6/9) thanks to Giorgos Printezis during his own “A Night to Remember”, when the club retired the jersey with number #15.
And while Evan Fournier made his debut in red and white, the absences did not make it easier for Giorgos Bartzokas to draw the best possible conclusions at this time.
Olympiakos was without Nigel Williams-Goss and Filip Petrusev, who are following individual training programs, as well as long-term injured players Moustapha Fall and Keenan Evans and Nikola Milutinov, who has just been added to the unfortunate group, while captain Kostas Papanikolaou and Thomas Walkup are in Istanbul for Euroleague obligations.
“Present” from Wright
On the other hand, the absences in the frontline gave a leading role to Moses Wright. The 26-year-old American center reminded everyone that he is also part of the team, evidenced by his double-double of 25 points (10/13 2pt.) and 10 rebounds.
Classic Vezenkov, McKissic in form
At the same time, Sasha Vezenkov continues from where he left off before going to and returning from the NBA and the Kings (2023-24). The 29-year-old Bulgarian power forward followed with 24 points (9/13 shooting). He also converted the 2/2 free throws that shaped the final score when Red Star cut the lead to 85-83 with -7 seconds remaining.
Close behind was Shaq McKissic with 16 points (5/7 shooting) in just 14:16. The “Shaq Attack” seems to be in good form, having scored 19 points in the recent victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Fournier the Creator
As for Evan Fournier, his unofficial debut in red and white found him leaving his usual scorer role for that of a creator. The 32-year-old French star did not score but distributed 8 assists.
Next in Heraklion
The next step for Olympiakos is in Heraklion with participation in the “Aegean Omiros College International Basketball Tournament Crete” (14-15/9) at “Dyo Aorakia”, where they will face Virtus Bologna (14/9, 20:30/Cosmote Sport 4) and one of Fenerbahce or Olimpia Milano (15/9, 18:00 or 20:30/Cosmote Sport 4 depending on the results of the first day).
The quarters: 23-23, 35-38, 54-56, 87-83
- Olympiakos (Bartzokas):
- Wright: 25pts (10/13 2pt., 0/1 3pt., 5/6 FT), 10r, 1st, 2blk, 2pf in 35:35
- Mitrou-Long: (0/2 3pt.), 3ast, 1pf in 11:15
- Larentzakis: 7pts (2/2 2pt., 1/1 3pt.), 3r, 5ast, 2st, 1pf in 15:27
- Vildoza: 5pts (1/2 2pt., 1/2 3pt.), 3r, 3ast, 3st, 4pf in 24:57
- Vezenkov: 24pts (6/7 2pt., 3/7 3pt., 3/4 FT), 6r, 1ast, 1st, 1pf in 30:54
- Spartalis: – in 04:25
- Dorsey: 6pts (1/6 2pt., 1/4 3pt., 1/2 FT), 4r, 4ast, 2st, 2pf in 21:21
- Peters: 4pts (1/3 2pt., 0/1 3pt., 2/2 FT), 2r, 1ast, 1st, 1pf in 23:13
- McKissic: 13pts (3/3 2pt., 2/4 3pt., 4/8 FT), 1st, 1pf in 14:16
- Fournier: (0/2 3pt.), 1r, 8ast, 1blk, 1pf in 18:37
Red Star (Sfairopoulos): Miller-McIntyre 18 (2), Canaan 3, Davidovac 1, Mitrovic 5, Lazic, Kalinic 2, Dobric 14 (3), Bolomboy 14 (11r.), Daum, Gendraitis 5, Plavsic 4, Kostic, dos Santos 17 (5ast.) – Absent: Teodosic, Nedovic
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