Olympiacos Piraeus responded to its overtime loss in Dubai with a dominant 109-77 victory over Virtus Bologna on Friday at the Peace And Friendship Stadium, delivering one of its most complete performances of the EuroLeague season.
Georgios Bartzokas’s team attacked early through Sasha Vezenkov, who scored 10 first-quarter points and finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists in just over 24 minutes. The January MVP set the tone with efficient off-ball movement and quick decisions against a defense that had allowed only 83.2 points per game entering the night.
Tyler Dorsey added 18 points, including five three-pointers, while Olympiacos showcased depth with 11 players scoring at least five points. The hosts shot 26-for-38 from two-point range and 13-for-28 from beyond the arc, combining spacing and ball movement to generate high-percentage looks.
Virtus kept pace early, but the second quarter decided the game as the Reds exploded for 37 points while holding the visitors to just 11. The 61 first-half points matched the club’s EuroLeague record before halftime and reflected a balanced attack, with the starters contributing 57 points and the bench adding 52.
Olympiacos finished with 26 assists and only 10 turnovers, controlling tempo through Thomas Walkup and disciplined half-court execution. The Greek side also dominated the glass 40-27, limiting second-chance opportunities for Dusko Ivanovic’s squad.
For Virtus, Derrick Alston Jr. led with 16 points, while Daniel Hackett added 14 and Karim Jallow contributed 13, but inconsistent shooting and 13 turnovers prevented any comeback. The Italian side converted only 7-of-16 free throws and trailed by as many as 33 points.
The win improved Olympiacos to 17-9, keeping it second in the standings behind reigning champion Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. The Piraeus club now prepares for a clash with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade next week, while Virtus heads to Istanbul to face Anadolu Efes after falling to 12-15.
