The double Euroleague week continues tonight (Thursday) with particularly intriguing games. Alba Berlin of Yuval Sussman and Tamir Blatt tried with all its might to get out of its terrible six-game losing streak but could not for Olympiakos, who recovered from the loss at Menorah Mivathim Hall this week, and won 76:86 on German soil.
In the other two games played tonight, Fenerbahçe already trailed by 16 points on the threshold of the first half but recovered and came out victorious in Milan against Ettore Messina’s unfortunate team that recorded a sixth Euroleague loss in a row after 82:72. Wim Madar and Partizan made life difficult for Real Madrid but lost in the end 105:97.
Alba Berlin – Olympiakos 86:76
In the game itself, the Germans dominated the game in the opening and throughout the first 20 minutes of the match they were completely in the game, with the ones leading the Germans being Jalin Smith who was one of only three in Alba’s ranks to reach double figures, and Tamir Blatt who scored 10 points and gave 3 assists, in addition to Maudo To him who provided 12 points to Alba. The Germans did not give up despite a weak third quarter in which they scored only 17, and began to climb back in the opening ten minutes of the game, but they were unable to the talented group of Giorgis Bartzoks who won and deepened the crisis of Alba Berlin, 76:86 for Olympiakos at the end.
Next week, the Germans’ schedule is not expected to be easy when they host Barcelona at home, hoping to snap a seven-game losing streak in Europe after tonight’s game. On the other hand, Olympiakos, who recovered this evening from their first away loss in the Euroleague this season to Ketch’s team this week, will continue their journey of away games and will arrive at the home of Anadolu Efes with the aim of leaving Turkey victorious as well.
Olympia Milan – Fenerbahce 82:72
Just two days ago Ettore Messina’s team suffered a humiliating loss against another Turkish team when they were defeated 80:51 against Anadolu Efes. Tonight, the Italian team came up in order to regain their lost honor, and take the stigma of the team off their backs from the factory’s disappointment this season as well. At the start of the game, it seemed that this might indeed be the renaissance of the Italians who won the first quarter and looked great, so much so that they led the Euroleague leader by 16 points.
From that point, the Itodis team reset on itself, tightened the defense and ran to a tremendous third quarter in which they eliminated the Reds from the field, who scored 11, in total compared to the Turks’ 26. In the last quarter, the Italians tried to make a comeback and not leave the home hall disappointed, but in the end they were defeated for the second time this week by a Turkish team, 72:82 to Fenerbahçe at the end.
In their next game, the Italians will travel to the Basque country and play against Basconia in search of a first victory in the factory after six losses. On the other hand, the Euroleague leader who recorded a fourth win in a row this evening will host the match at home that could be the Euroleague final this season, and face Real Madrid.
Real Madrid – Partizan Belgrade 97:105
The game between the team of Jeljko Oberdovic and that of Mateo Chos provided tension that no one expected. The first quarter was a huge show by both teams, but it became an unforgettable display for the Serbs, who gave Real Madrid the quarter in which they score the most points ever at home, and after the first 10 minutes the score was 32:40 in favor of the Serbian team. Real, being the runner-up of the Euroleague, woke up and provided a second quarter in which they stopped Partizan on only 11 points, returned to the game and ended the half with a three-point advantage, 51:54 to the Spaniards at halftime.
In the third quarter the score balanced out a bit and the Spaniards increased the difference to seven points, but the Serbian team did not give up and climbed their way into the game. The experience and quality of Real was felt when the Serbians started to get closer, so the Blancos opened fire and went on a run (32 points in the third quarter) that kept them in the lead until the whistle, when the score clock showed 97:105 to Real Madrid at the end. Yam Medar rarely played and contributed two assists to the home team.
Next week, Real Madrid will play a difficult away match against the Euroleague leader Fenerbahce, in a match with a Final Four atmosphere, while Željko Oberdović and his team will host Valencia at the Belgrade Arena.
