Sasha Vezenkov overcame tonsillitis and a hard collision to deliver a gritty performance, helping Olympiacos secure a tough EuroLeague win against AS Monaco.
Olympiacos Piraeus star Sasha Vezenkov has returned to the EuroLeague action after the toe fracture, but the EuroLeague Round 13 win against AS Monaco was far from smooth.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
20
|
| Shaquielle McKissic | |
| Points | 18 |
| Accuracy | 6-10 |
| Rebounds | 3 |
| Assists | 2 |
Vezenkov had 14 points and six rebounds in nearly 28 minutes on the court, but he wasn't at full strength. Battling tonsillitis and on antibiotics, the Bulgarian forward described his condition as "It was a rough day" in a post-game interview with EuroLeague TV.
Moreover, Vezenkov collided with Monaco's Jordan Loyd late in the third quarter, leaving the court with a bloodied eyebrow and eventually sporting a black eye.
Head coach Georgios Bartzokas praised Vezenkov's resilience.
"Sasha has tonsillitis, a little problem with his neck. He started taking antibiotics. During the game, he was also hit in the eye. But he was important to us. I really appreciate that he gave everything for the win," Bartzokas said in the post-game conference.
The coach also revealed that center Moustapha Fall is dealing with a foot issue but remains optimistic that the team will be at full strength for Friday's showdown against EuroLeague leaders Paris Basketball.
With their seventh win in the last eight games, Olympiacos now stands at 9-4.
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