Olympiacos – Hapoel Holon 88-77: A positive test on the way to the first title of the season

The first game of the Neophytos Handriotis tournament in Cyprus had difficulties for Olympiakos, but they won 88-77 against Hapoel Holon and showed themselves in good shape before meeting Red Star on Saturday (24/9 at 18:00 CEST). 27 assists from Piraeus for their 31 baskets, 33 points scored from 20 errors by their opponents.

Alec Peters, Tomas Walkup and Giannoulis Larentzakis were the three standouts, with Giorgos Bartzokas only missing Kostas Sloukas as the National Guard recovers from the injury that has plagued him in recent weeks. With the Greek Super Cup (1st and 2nd October) in mind, Piraeus is already working on the first title of the 2022/23 season.

Swept on kickoff, missed against the zone

Olympiacos opened the sweeping game with Walkup, McKissick, Papanikolaou, Peters, Black (13:2 in 3′), relied on his long-range shot and ended the period with +5 (19:14). Three 2-pointers made for 13 3-pointers was the Red-Whites’ record in the quarter, with walkup 3/3 of the perimeter making the difference.

In a rather anarchic match early in the second period, Olympiacos went into the second five with Kanan, Luntzis, Larentzakis, Vezenkov and Fal. Holon lost by a point (29-28 at 15′) but without taking the lead. The Piraeus ran a small 6-0 to stay ahead, but at halftime the 36-36 was problematic as the zone defense implemented by Guy Gudes had led the Reds and Whites to seven two-pointers and 24 three-pointers.

Larentzakis reaction and outburst

Going 9-2 in 1:55 early in the second half, Olympiacos eluded the goal and found the good reaction it needed. Hapoel Holon stayed close, but not close enough to really threaten Barzoka’s side. The 65-59 in the 30th minute kept interest alive after Peters made a breakthrough in the quarter and the Piraeus got into the fourth game with Kanan, Larentzaki, McKissick, Vezenkov and Boloboi.

A difficult two-pointer from Ragland gave Holon the first lead (67-65 at 34′), only Olympiacos responded with a 10-0 run, with Larentzakis making the difference in defense and attack. Vezenkov gifted his opponents with his 16th 3 for 85-74 in a match in which the Greek champions were overall superior, even if they didn’t step on the gas in the end, even if they were thinking about the first title of the 2022/23 season.

THE REFEREES: Yavor, Hordow, Biswell

THE DECADES: 19-14, 36-36, 65-59, 88-77

OLYMPIC (Bartzokas): Walkup 9 (3/4 3-pointers, 2 rebounds, 7 assists), Papanikolaou 10 (2/3 2-pointers, 2/6 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals), Black 4 , Peters 15 (2/3 2-pointers, 3/6 3-pointers, 2/2 shots), McKissick 10 (2/2 2-pointers, 2/5 3-pointers, 4 assists), Kanan 6 (1) , Lountzis 6 (1), Larentzakis 13 (3/5 3-pointers, 4/4 shots), Fahl 7, Vezhenkov 8 (1/7 3-pointers, 5 rebounds), Boloboi

HAPOEL HOLLON (Gudes): Ragland 13 (5/7 2-pointers, 1/4 3-pointers, 2 rebounds, 13 assists, 6 turnovers), Chris Johnson 8 (4/7 2-pointers), Bourdillon 6 (2), Dalton 9 (1), Marvin Jones 10 (2/5 2-pointers, 1/1 3-pointers, 3/4 shots), Dawson 6 (1), Amir, Kaji 16 (2/3 2-pointers, 3/5 3-pointers, 3/6 shots, 5 rebounds), Misgav 9 (1)

Olympiacos team statistics: 15/21 2-pointers, 16/42 3-pointers, 10/16 shots, 33 rebounds (21 defensive – 12 offensive), 27 assists, 10 steals, 5 blocks, 12 fouls

Hapoel Holon team stats: 18/31 2-pointers, 10/21 3-pointers, 11/16 shots, 36 rebounds (28 defensive – 8 offensive), 21 assists, 9 steals, 1 block, 20 fouls