By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
One of the games to watch in Round 4 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague sees last year’s Final Four surprise, Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz, take on the team with the most titles this decade, Olympiacos Piraeus, on Thursday. A lot will hinge on the performance of signature stars Adam Hanga and Vassilis Spanoulis!
Baskonia and Olympiacos have a long tradition of confrontations in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this century, and that is going to be extended with one more big game on Thursday at Fernando Buesa Arena. Both rivals are coming off big wins on Tuesday, too. Sito Alonso’s team managed to pass through the Spanish capital unscathed, defeating previously unbeaten Real Madrid! Olympiacos ended the perfect start of another team, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, at home in Piraeus.
The performance of Olympiacos‘s leader, Vassilis Spanoulis, is going to play a catalytic role in the outcome of the game, as will that of Adam Hanga, a player who does everything for Baskonia on the court!
Spanoulis has had a great start to the season. After three games, he registers averages of 15 points, 6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. Of course, we are talking about a player who has won the EuroLeague three times (2009, 2012, 2013), all of them as the Final Four MVP. He was the MVP of the full 2012-13 season, as well, has multiple appearances on the All-EuroLeague Team, and he has numerous other personal MVP of the month and week awards under his belt.
Spanoulis is the second-best scorer in the history of the competition with 3,029 points and thir- best passer with 969 assists. He needs just 8 more assists to surpass Theodoros Papaloukas and climb into second place. He is without a doubt one of the most important leaders in the history of European basketball, and one of its most clutch performers, too.
The Hungarian Hanga, at 27 years of age, had his big breakout season last year and looks more than capable of solidifying his status at the top level. In his third season in the EuroLeague, his is putting up 12 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals after three games!
Hanga is a multi-tool player that every coach would want on their team: an energy-producing machine, an amazing defender in every situation, and a master at helping defensively. He contributes in all areas! Ηe creates, he’s the connective tissue between defense and offense, and he’s also gradually improving his productiveness on offense as well, especially in transition situations. Hanga is already one of the best all-around players in the competition and still has a lot of potential to improve.
Spanoulis is the brain as well as the most important executioner for Olympiacos. He’s capable of deciding games, even on a bad night. Adam Hanga is a totally different player, but he has ways of exercising great influence on games and pushing Baskonia to victories, through his gift for deciding defensive possessions as surely as other players decide on offense.
On Thursday night, one of these two gladiators is going to have a 3-1 record! Traditionally, the clashes between the two teams are thrilling – Olympiacos leads their series 18-14 in 32 games all played since 2000 – and everything suggests that the new game is not going to be an exception to the rule!