By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After losing the first game on their home-court, Olympiacos Piraeus fought back to tie the series against Zalgiris Kaunas in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoffs. Coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos and the player with the best move in Game 2, Ioannis Papapetrou, talked about the current situation in this playoff matchup before Game 3.
The coach noted that although Zalgiris has made a break, the pressure will transfer to them in Lithuania and that the key will be how his players cope with the injuries: “Zalgiris has the advantage but now plays on its home-court and the pressure is on Zalgiris players. We have the experience and we know what we must do to increase our chances for qualification. We must be ready and focus in both games. As far as injuries, it has not changed much… Printezis did not practice and it is not sure that he will play in Game 3. Milutinov is still out… But as in the previous game, many players will give their everything despite their injury problems.”
Papapetrou is also optimistic as he remembered everybody that Olympiacos was already in situations like this and has the quality to advance further: “We have been in the past in the same situation. Last year we lost the home advantage against Efes but we managed to take the ticket for the Final Four. We have the experience and the quality to take at least one big win in Kaunas. We must control the rebounds and play hard defense.”