By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
With limited options for both head coaches, as official games are fast approaching, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan defeated Olympiacos, 57-50, in the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Sunday.
The friendly contest followed the jersey retirement ceremony of Vassilis Spanoulis and lasted 30 minutes, similar to the meeting of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague participants behind closed doors on Friday.
Shavon Shields was the top scorer with 15 points for the winning side. Giordano Bortolani added ten points. Nicolo Melli, Stefano Tonut, Giampaolo Ricci, Maodo Lo, and Johannes Voigtmann, all 2023 FIBA World Cup participants were sidelined along with injured Billy Baron and Diego Flaccadori.
Nikola Milutinov, Nigel Williams-Goss, and Shaquielle McKissic all remained out for the team guided by Giorgos Bartzokas. Among available players, Alec Peters drew up a team-high 13 points.
Olimpia Milan honors Vassilis Spanoulis
Contributing to The Night of The Legend Vassilis Spanoulis, the visiting side of the preparation contest added on the tributes to Spanoulis presenting a plaque.
Per the press release: “In an emotional night, Olimpia participated to the “Night of the Legend”, the ceremony with which Olympiacos proceeded to retire Vassilis Spanoulis’s number 7 jersey, currently the EuroLeague all-time leading scorer and a two-time winner of the European title with the red and white team. Olimpia’s General manager Christos Stavropoulos, who worked for years with Spanoulis, and Kyle Hines, who was his teammate in both European triumphs, honored the legendary Greek player with a plaque depicting the number 7 and a personalized dedication “to a player incredibly talented who impacted a generation of athletes and fans with his creativity, longevity, and clutch plays. Spanoulis was a great competitor and a classy opponent and person.”
Gearing up for official action
Before official games take over the schedule, Olympiacos will travel to Cyprus to face Zalgiris and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the OPAP Basketball Tournament “Neofytos Chandriotis” next weekend. On October 6, visiting archrival Panathinaikos shapes an intriguing matchup in the opening round of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.
The team coached by Ettore Messina will instead switch to the Italian Basketball Supercup next weekend. Dealing with Virtus Segafredo Bologna shapes the challenge in the Semifinals of the preseason tournament. On the road for Round 1 of the new EuroLeague season, facing Fenerbahce Beko launches the 34-game double-legged round-robin schedule.