By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Reviewing the performance of Olympiacos in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four and his side ranking third in Berlin, Nikola Milutinov shared his expert opinion on reaching the season-ending tournament, surviving in a competitive field to place among the top four teams.
“Disappointment?” wondered the Serbian center during an interview with ERT, the public television broadcaster in Greece, after helping the Reds advance to the Finals of Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League Playoffs on Saturday.
“This is for the people that do not think clearly and straight,” he added, “I think being in the Final Four is a big success. How many great teams did not make it? So, when you qualify for the Final Four, it is a big success. And I want, especially, to congratulate Panathinaikos. They were the best team in the Final Four and deserved to win it.”
“It is a shame to think like this because when you qualify for the Final Four, it is never disappointing,” furthered Milutinov, “How many teams have a bigger budget than us? How many teams are signing huge quality players? They have MVPs and did not make it to the Final Four.”
Posting an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, he fueled an away win versus Peristeri bwin. Barring an upset by Aris Midea, archrival Panathinaikos Aktor will be the opponent for Milutinov and Olympiacos in a best-of-five championship series.
Basket League Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
A – Panathinaikos Aktor – PAOK mateco 2-0 (84-66, 99-96)
B – Promitheas – Aris Midea 1-2 (79-60, 85-89, 87-88)
C – Olympiacos – AEK Betsson 2-0 (92-75, 100-68)
D – Peristeri bwin – Kolossos H Hotels 2-0 (79-63, 88-86)
Semifinals (best-of-three)
Panathinaikos Aktor – Aris Midea 1-0 (89-71)
Olympiacos – Peristeri bwin 2-0 (83-72, 84-71)
Third-place (single game)
Peristeri bwin – Loser of Panathinaikos Aktor vs. Aris Midea
Finals (best-of-five)
Olympiacos – Winner of Panathinaikos Aktor vs. Aris Midea