Olympiacos outplayed Panathinaikos in the Greek Cup final by 69:58, clinching the trophy in a game characterized by a relatively low number of points.
For both teams, this trophy was of great importance as it would set the tone for the remainder of the season, providing a boost in morale and confidence.
However, both teams faced adversity as they lost key players almost at the last moment. Olympiacos was without their top scorer Nigel Williams-Goss, while the returning Luca Vildoza experienced discomfort on the other side.
Furthermore, Olympiacos had previously been without Nikola Milutinov, who will continue to be sidelined for some time. Therefore, Georgios Bartzokas‘ side needed to dictate the rhythm of the game, slowing down the pace and reducing possessions. This strategy proved successful, making the game reminiscent of classic Greek basketball from earlier times.
The first quarter belonged to Olympiacos by 14:12, directing the game in the direction they desired. They continued this momentum into the next quarter, which they won by 16:13. The fact that Ergin Ataman’s team only scored 25 points in the first half was evidence of how defensively dominant Olympiacos was, leaving their opponent helpless.
Despite a 7:1 run by Panathinaikos in the third quarter, Olympiacos responded, keeping the game balanced at that moment. However, the Reds finished the quarter better and entered the final 10 minutes with an eight-point lead. This surge broke the Green’s spirit, as they played indifferently in the crucial quarter and ultimately lost, allowing Olympiacos to claim the trophy.
The top scorers for the winning team were Moses Wright and Moustapha Fall with 13 points each, while Filip Petrusev contributed 10 points.
In the defeated team, Dinos Mitoglou led with 16 points. Mathias Lessort scored 12, while Jerian Grant had 11. Kendrick Nunn had a slightly weaker performance than usual with 10 points.