Valencia Basket disconnects against Olympiacos
Mumbrú’s team, from more to less, yields at home to the intoxicated leader of the Euroleague
MADRID, 24 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket fell (85-92) this Friday against Olympiacos on matchday 25 of the Euroleague held at La Fonteta, a tough match against the leader who came to dominate by 15 points in the second quarter and who gave up an important disconnection .
Álex Mumbrú’s men suffered the seventh straight victory for the first team in the table, always victorious on their visits to the ‘taronja’ home. Valencia commanded from the start but did not know how to maintain that intensity and success. A 13-30 run in the third quarter was decisive, despite the fireworks that Prepelic saved (21 points).
The uneven hunger with which both teams arrived at La Fonteta was noted at the start of the match. The locals, with the disappointment of the defeat in their debut in the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid despite having possession to win, entered with everything against an Olympiacos among the laurels of the Greek Cup.
The leader took a long time to land and Valencia had no mercy (23-9), with great defense and a good triple. The Greek team was another in the second quarter and dried up the ‘taronja’, who conceded a 0-15 partial with a great Papanikolau that ended the game with 22 points. The second unit did not work in Mumbrú’s team and the return of Dubljevic did to cut the bleeding.
The captain returned with a triple and Valencia activated the defense again to capsize the Greek boat. A slap from Canaan to Prepelic was left without the major sanction but charged one of Mumbrú’s toned players with fouls, and once again Olympiacos made up the room with the last actions. Despite signing 11 turnovers and four triples for the nine locals, the leader remained in the game at halftime (45-35).
Valencia verified that the duel required keeping the script for 40 minutes and in the third quarter they suffered a new disconnection, another partial 0-15 against. With 13 points from Walkup and an improved accuracy, Olympiacos achieved the first lead of the game, rounded off for the last quarter with two three-pointers from McKissic, which he did not release until they attacked La Fonteta again.
Harper was the one who assumed the local command but the leader’s blow was hard, also with the awakening of Vezenkov. The Greek machine, 30 points after the restart, entered the final 10 minutes with 58-65, while the losses took the game from Mumbrú. Bad attacks and options for a very active Olympiacos to get the match back on track (58-73).
Prepelic, who went into a trance from the triple, and Jones gave the ‘taronja’ fans some faith, but Georgios Bartzokas’ men, with Sloukas and Vezenkov, left no option for a local comeback although the Spanish team fought until the end. Mumbrú’s men thus neglect the tight ‘playoffs’ area while the Greek team maintains a strong run at the head of the Euroleague.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: VALENCIA BASKETBALL, 85 – OLYMPIACOS, 92. (45-35, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
VALENCIA BASKET: Jones (5), Prepelic (21), Webb III (14), Claver (8) and Dubljevic (9) –starting five–; Harper (11), Rivero (6), Evans (-), Alexander (2), Pradilla (-), Lopez-Arostegi (2), Radebaugh (7).
OLYMPICS: Walkup (13), Canaan (7), Papanikolau (22), Vezenkov (20) and Fall (5) — the starting quintet — Sloukas (10), McKissic (11), Peters (-), Bolomboy (-). ), Larentzakis (-), Black (4).
— PARTIALS: 25-15, 20-20, 13-30 and 27-27.
–REFEREES: Javor, Jovcic and Mogulkoc. Eliminated for Prepelic fouls.
— PAVILION: La Fonteta.