Cedevita Olimpija lost 78-73 to Aris in Thessaloniki in Round 5 of the BKT EuroCup regular season. The Greek side remain unbeaten in Group A, while the Dragons are still waiting for their first European win of the season.
Aris recorded their fifth straight European win on Wednesday and beat Cedevita Olimpija for the first time after four consecutive defeats over the past two seasons. After five rounds, the Dragons are 0-5 in Group A.
The Ljubljana side will host FMP in the AdmiralBet ABA League at Arena Stožice on Saturday at 5 p.m. On Wednesday, November 4, they face Baglietto Derthona Tortona at Stožice in Round 6 of the BKT EuroCup regular season. Tickets are available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.
POST-GAME QUOTES:
Đorđe Adžić, assistant coach, KK Cedevita Olimpija:
“I think that on such a hostile court and against a team like this, we lacked experience – maybe mine as a coach, and the players’ as well – to recognise certain situations better. On the two threes we conceded in the fourth quarter, we should have recognised that moment and held on until the end. Overall, I’m satisfied, especially with how we controlled the tempo of the game. Rebounding was a big problem as always, but it didn’t significantly affect the rest of the game. I think we controlled their offence well, considering Aris are one of the best offensive teams in the BKT EuroCup this season.”
Noah Kirkwood, player, KK Cedevita Olimpija:
“It was a tough game. I think we showed a lot of good moments and really fought. We knew it would be difficult on such a demanding road trip, so above all I’m pleased with our fighting spirit. We showed we can compete with one of the best teams in the EuroCup, and we have to build on that. We wanted to show our fight, that we can compete and play all four quarters, not just one or two. We didn’t get the job done, so this is by no means a win. But we have to catch momentum somewhere. This is one of the best teams, and we showed we can compete with them. We need to take that and carry it into the next game.”
GAME REPORT:
The opening 20 minutes in Thessaloniki were evenly contested. Cedevita Olimpija played with heart and the effort paid off: just under a minute before the end of the second quarter, they led 34-39, though Aris cut the deficit to one point by halftime. Rihards Lomažs led the Dragons in the first half with 11 points, followed by Matthew Hurt with 9 and Noah Kirkwood with 8.
Aris quickly took the lead early in the third quarter, but every time it looked like the hosts would pull away, the Dragons found an answer. After 30 minutes the scoreboard read 57-57, and it was all to play for.
The hosts opened the final period with a 12-3 run to go up 69-60, but the Slovenian champions refused to give in. Just under three minutes from the end, they cut the gap to 74-68, and then to 74-70 after a Kirkwood layup. At that point, the Dragons’ offence stalled, Aris pulled away again, and the Ljubljana side could not get close anymore.
Hurt finished with 19 points, Anthony Cowan Jr. added 14, and Lomažs and Kirkwood had 12 each. David Škara added five rebounds to his five points, while Rok Radović had three points and seven rebounds.
BKT EUROCUP – REGULAR SEASON, GROUP A, ROUND 5
Nick Galis Hall (Thessaloniki, Greece), Wednesday, October 28:
ARIS THESSALONIKI – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA 78-73 (21-19, 17-20, 19-18, 21-16)
Cedevita Olimpija: Cowan Jr. 14, Radović 3 (7 rebounds), Gainey 5, Lomažs 12, Ustun, Blažič, Osifo 1, Hurt 19, Kirkwood 12, Kroflič 2, Škara 5 (5 rebounds).
