Olympiacos secured the last remaining spot in the EuroLeague Final Four in two weeks time after they defeated Anadolu Efes 87-78 in Piraeus.
The Reds’ qualification ensures a repeat of the 2015 Final Four in Madrid with the exact same matches taking place as Olympiacos face off against CSKA Moscow as well as Fenerbahce taking Real Madrid.
Veteran Vassils Spanoulis let the basketball world know that he was still an active scorer as he paced Olympiacos with 22 points. Georgios Printezis added 14 points, including a late three-pointer that started the celebrations around town.
Down 41-37 at half-time, Olympiacos began the second half on a 9-0 tear and never trailed again. Anadolu Efes however never quit and closed to within four points with three minutes left, but free throws by Spanoulis and a clutch three by Printezis’s put the game and series on ice.
“I feel great,” said Olympiacos coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos.
“It was a very tough and big season. We passed a lot of good and bad things and now it’s a success to be in the Final Four, the one big hope for every European team. I am very happy and very proud for the Olympiacos family. I love basketball; that is the only secret for me. I love basketball so much that I want to be among the best players and on the best teams, like we are at Olympiacos every year.”
Cedi Osman led a balanced Anadolu Efes attack with 11 points but they miss out on another chance at competing in a Final Four.
