Vangelis Mantzaris (GRE)
20/04/2015
League
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Greece triumvirate even the score for Olympiacos

BARCELONA (Euroleague/EuroBasket 2015) - There is nothing more important for a team in a post-season series than to have players that have been through the wars before.

Olympiacos have several, including the Greece national team trio of Georgios Printezis, Vassilis Spanoulis and Vangelis Mantzaris.

Each is sure to figure prominently at EuroBasket 2015 when Greece attempt to reach the Final and make it back to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

Each impressed in Game 2 of the Reds' best-of-five Turkish Airlines Euroleague showdown with Barcelona, a clash that ended in a 76-63 triumph for Olympiacos.

Printezis had 22 points and nine rebounds, Spanoulis poured in 16 points and Mantzaris contributed 12.

Printezis was also terrific on defense, while Spanoulis and Mantzaris time and time again showed off their passing skills.

All of that savvy and experience was evident when the great Spanoulis reflected on Game 2.

He stressed that he and his teammates must maintain an even keel.

The most important thing is not to have feelings or emotions, whether you lose or win - Spanoulis

"It's a big battle that only finishes when you get three wins," Spanoulis said.

"Every game is different. Every game is important.

"The most important thing is that one more time, like the last few years, we showed great character."

Printezis, who famously lifted Olympiacos to the title with a buzzer-beating shot against CSKA Moscow a few years ago, often plays his best basketball at the business end of seasons.

He received a lot of hugs after his big performance.

A power forward who broke into the Greece senior team at the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Printezis echoed the thoughts of Spanoulis following the Game 2 triumph.

"We won only one battle, and we have to continue," he warned.

"It's a long series, Barcelona is a very good team, especially away.

"So we have to forget this now and continue in the same way."

As for Greece's national team, the absence of Spanoulis at last summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup because of injury did not appear to hurt their chances in Group B when they won all of their games in Seville and stormed into the Round of 16.

Printezis and Mantzaris were among those to help the Greeks weather the storm and claim five victories in as many games.

But without Spanoulis, the Greeks lost their composure against Serbia and crashed out .

All three will be crucial for Greece when they play in Zagreb at EuroBasket 2015 in Group C against Croatia, F.Y.R. of Macedonia (MKD), the Netherlands, Georgia and Slovenia.

For more information on that tournament, go to www.EuroBasket2015.org.

FIBA