Red Star and Olympiacos advance to the final in Crete

The European basketball preseason experienced a day of maximum intensity in Crete, where two semifinals painted a clear picture for the final: Red Star and Olympiacos will compete for the tournament title. The Serbs demonstrated their ability to react against a formidable opponent like Olimpia Milano, while the Greeks completed a convincing comeback against the Turkish Fenerbahçe.

Red Star comes back in the decisive quarter

Red Star Meridianbet closed their semifinal with a 18-30 run in the last quarter, the key to a victory that seemed complicated with twelve minutes remaining. The Serbian team started the game with determination, leading 17-15 at the end of the first period. However, Olimpia Milano reacted in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 43-39 lead.

Upon resumption, the Italian team continued to dominate the game, and by the end of the third quarter, they had extended their lead to 67-61, putting Red Star under pressure. However, the Serbian champions found resources at the most critical moment. A suffocating defense and fluid offense allowed the Belgrade team to overcome the deficit and finish the game with a definitive 91-85.

Jordan Nwora was Red Star's top scorer with 23 points, while Moses Wright contributed with 22 points. The Serbian team showed its ability to endure adversity without falling apart, a characteristic of teams accustomed to competing in the EuroLeague. Olimpia Milano, despite the defeat, had a solid game and will have the chance to fight for third place.

Olympiacos dominates the second half against Fenerbahçe

In the second semifinal, the Greek Olympiacos completed a clearer comeback against the Turkish Fenerbahçe, winning 82-77 in a very balanced duel in the early stages. The Turkish team went into halftime with a narrow lead of 37-34 after the first twenty minutes, where both teams demonstrated equality.

The difference came in the second half, where Olympiacos significantly improved their game and took control of the match. The Greek team outperformed their rivals on both sides of the court and secured a five-point victory that grants them direct access to the final of the tournament. Evan Fournier led Olympiacos as the top scorer with 19 points, while Donta Hall significantly contributed with 16 points and eight rebounds.

For Fenerbahçe, Wade Baldwin was the top scorer with 16 points, but the Turkish team could not maintain the level shown in the first half. With this victory, Olympiacos will face Red Star in the final of the Crete Tournament, while Fenerbahçe and Olimpia Milano will battle for third place.

Other preseason results in Turkey and France

The preseason day also featured other relevant results in different competitions. In the TÜBAD Mehmet Baturalp Tournament held in Turkey, Esenler Erokspor defeated Anadolu Efes by a narrow 77-75, inflicting a two-point defeat on a EuroLeague team in a very contested matchup.

Anadolu Efes showed good collective performance despite the loss. Bruno Fernando was one of the standout players with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Dario Šarić contributed 11 points and five rebounds, while Daron Russell had a versatile performance with 11 points and six assists. Matthew Strazel added 10 points with five rebounds and four assists, and Santiago Yusta contributed with eight points and five rebounds.

In the same Turkish tournament, Turk Telekom defeated Dubai BC by 72-67, although the Istanbul team suffered a comeback in the final minutes. The Turkish team led by eight points at the end of the third quarter but could not maintain the lead and ended up suffering their first defeat of the preseason.

French basketball in action

The day also included two matches featuring French EuroLeague teams. Paris Basketball decisively defeated Hestia Menorca, a team from the Spanish second division, with a final score of 95-62. The dominance was clear from the start, allowing the Parisians to showcase their offensive potential in a preseason day.

For its part, ASVEL did not have the same fortune and fell to Élan Pau-Lacq-Orthez by 83-73 in a more competitive match. The Lyon team could not impose themselves at home and suffered a defeat that marks a turning point in their preparation for the upcoming EuroLeague season.

These results illustrate the intensity that characterizes the European preseason, where teams seek to find rhythm and chemistry before the official season begins. The victories of Red Star and Olympiacos in Crete confirm that both teams arrive in good shape for their respective competitions, while other teams like Anadolu Efes or ASVEL will need to review aspects of their game to improve in the coming weeks.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Estrella Roja y Olympiacos avanzan a la final de Creta