Amazing performance from the fighting Peristeri that almost shocked Olympiacos – In the end, however, the Piraeus team showed character and took the victory-qualification (79-74) in the final
Olympiacos did qualify for the final after defeating Peristeri (79-74), but they raised concerns with their performance. Excellent display from the team from the western suburbs that won the impressions.
The match
Olympiacos started the game with the lineup of Walkup, Fournier at ‘2’, Papapetrou, Vezenkov, and Wright, while Peristeri entered the court with Pouliantzis, Carberry, Papas, Kofi, and Patton. The team from the western suburbs started the game strongly with two consecutive three-pointers (2-6), displaying excellent ball movement, while the Piraeus team struggled defensively in the first minutes. Fournier leveled the score with a three-pointer (8-8), but Peristeri then took a +6 lead (11-17), having 6 assists and no turnovers already. The Piraeus team then… awakened, with Vezenkov giving them the lead with a three-pointer (18-17) in the 7th minute. The end of the quarter found Giorgos Bartzokas’ players ahead 22-19.
In the second period, Olympiacos returned to the court with Vildoza, Goss, Dorsey, Peters, and Petrousef, with the latter making an excellent play to make it 26-19. The Piraeus team had good ball movement, with Dorsey hitting a three-pointer to extend the lead to +12 (34-22) in the 16th minute, with the nominal hosts controlling the pace. Peristeri responded (34-31) with Eddie, with the score at halftime being 41-34. Several mistakes (7-8) from both teams in the first twenty minutes.
In the second half, Olympiacos returned with Walkup, Dorsey, Fournier, Vezenkov, and Wright, with Carberry cutting the lead down (43-41). Peristeri was looking straight into the eyes of their great opponent, continuously getting open shots after good ball movement, putting pressure on the Piraeus team. Papas, with a drive, gave his team the lead again, while Kofi with a three-pointer set the score at 47-51. The excellent Peristeri had gained confidence, displaying aggressive energy on the court, with Carberry extending the lead to +8 (49-57) in the 26th minute. In just 6 minutes, Olympiacos had conceded 26 points, along with 0/5 from three-point range. The end of the period found Peristeri leading with a score of 60-63.
In the final period, the battles intensified on the court, with Walkup from the corner giving the lead to Olympiacos (67-65) in the 33rd minute. The excellent Eddie responded with a three-pointer (70-68), and Kofi finished plays excellently (74-72 in the 36th minute), with the fighting Peristeri not giving up the effort. Goss, Vildoza, Walkup, Peters, and Petrousef continued on the court, with Vezenkov returning to the lineup and with a nice basket (79-72) he… secured the match in the 39th minute. In the end, Olympiacos took the victory and qualification with 79-74.
THE QUARTERS: 22-19, 41-34, 60-63, 79-74
OLYMPIACOS (Bartzokas): Walkup 5 (1/5 three-pointers, 6 assists), Wright 7 (5 rebounds, 2 blocks), Vezenkov 20 (6/8 two-pointers, 2/3 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws, 4 rebounds), Papapetrou 2, Fournier 7 (1), Williams-Goss 6 (2/7 shooting, 3 assists), Vildoza 4 (1/7 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Dorsey 7 (1/6 three-pointers), Peters 3 (1 three-pointer, 9 rebounds), Petrousef 18 (7/8 two-pointers, 4/7 free throws, 9 rebounds)
PERISTERI (Limniatis): Kofi 19 (6/8 two-pointers, 2/4 three-pointers, 1/2 free throws, 4 rebounds), Papas 7 (1/6 three-pointers), Pouliantzis 6 (2), Patton 11 (4/5 two-pointers, 1/1 three-pointer, 4 rebounds), Carberry 15 (1/6 two-pointers, 3/6 three-pointers, 3/4 free throws, 4 rebounds, 7 assists), Xanthopoulos 2, Abdallas (0/6 shooting), Eddie 12 (2/5 two-pointers, 2/3 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws, 4 rebounds), Zougris 3 (7 rebounds)
The team statistics of Olympiacos: 21/30 two-pointers, 7/32 three-pointers, 16/25 free throws, 43 rebounds (26 defensive – 17 offensive), 17 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 13 turnovers, 17 fouls
The team statistics of Peristeri: 16/33 two-pointers, 11/26 three-pointers, 9/14 free throws, 32 rebounds (22 defensive – 10 offensive), 21 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, 15 turnovers, 24 fouls