Bandja Sy reflected on Paris Basketball’s 73-90 defeat to Olympiakos, highlighting a poor start that set the tone for the match. He acknowledged the need for a better beginning and emphasized the importance of resilience. Coach Tiago Splitter praised Olympiakos for their skill and shooting efficiency while noting the challenges of playing catch-up. Both emphasized the need to learn from this experience as they prepare for their next Euroleague game against Bologna.
Analysis of Paris Basketball’s Defeat Against Olympiakos
Bandja Sy, the winger for Paris Basketball, reflected on the team’s challenging 73-90 loss to Olympiakos, stating, “What was lacking? Our disastrous start in the first quarter completely set the tone for the match. This early deficit placed us in a difficult position for the remainder of the game. Olympiakos is the Euroleague leader, so managing a game from such a start is a real challenge, particularly in both offensive and defensive aspects. Even when we narrowed the gap to six points, there was a mental hurdle we failed to overcome. The unfortunate truth is that it all stems from that initial quarter, where we allowed too many points, boosting their confidence and enabling them to make shots from all angles. At this level of competition, we cannot expect an easy game with such a start. Sasha Vezenkov scored 17 points in the first quarter, proving to be a formidable player we couldn’t contain during that time. It requires a team effort to stop players of that caliber, and he set them on the right path. They possess numerous high-level players with incredible talent and teamwork. Do I have regrets? Absolutely. However, this experience should serve as a lesson, and we must avoid repeating such a poor start in future matches. In the Euroleague, it’s rare to recover from a beginning like that.”
Looking Ahead: Lessons and Strategies
Sy also addressed the team’s character, stating, “Did we show resilience? Yes, that’s one takeaway, we did respond, but ideally, we shouldn’t have to react; we need to be in the game from the start. We will learn from this experience and focus on what we did right. What shifted in the second half? We returned to our style, playing with increased aggression and defensive pressure—essentially, what we are known for. However, it’s challenging to make a comeback against such a strong opponent. As we prepare for our upcoming Euroleague match in Bologna on Friday, we must regroup. It will be a tough away game against a skilled team supported by an enthusiastic crowd.”
Tiago Splitter, the coach of Paris Basketball, shared his insights, saying, “First, I want to commend Olympiakos; they are a highly talented and well-coached team. They achieved 40% shooting from three-point range and an impressive 66% from two-point shots. Additionally, they took 24 free throws compared to just seven for us. What was missing at the end of the match? Olympiakos had a commanding 30-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, and we spent the entire game playing catch-up. We attempted various tactical adjustments, such as moving Mika (Jantunen) to the five position to spread the floor, but our accuracy was lacking. They outperformed us compared to our victory in Athens last December. We made more shots then, but tonight, we simply couldn’t find the net. Sometimes, basketball boils down to making or missing shots, and unfortunately, we missed our chances today.”
These statements were gathered during a press conference and in the mixed zone.