By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda coach Giannis Sfairopoulos commended his players for their effort in the EuroLeague game against Zalgiris Kaunas on the road despite the loss. The Lithuanian side took the win thanks to a buzzer-beater by Bryant Dunston.
“I wanted to congratulate my players for how they fought tonight. In my eyes, they are the winners. I’m very proud of how they played tonight. Thank you,” Sfairopoulos said in the post-game presser. He then left without accepting any questions.
Zvezda had several complaints over the officiating of the game. Sfairopoulos filed a protest in the fourth period, after one of the most controversial moments of the clash.
With 6:11 to play, and Zalgiris up 71 – 67, big man Alen Smailagic dunked the ball and won a foul in the process while visibly elbowing Zvezda forward Nikola Kalinic mid-air during his attempt.
Sfairopoulos asked for the play to be reviewed for an unsportsmanlike foul on Smailagic but the referees kept their initial decision.