Vezenkov is for the regular season, but when the biggest games arrive – his replacement is there

Olympiacos had been waiting for a championship crown since 2013. They reclaimed it in Athens, specifically in the OAKA Arena, with a victory over Real Madrid.

We witnessed a spectacular final, truly befitting a trophy match, and in the end, the Reds emerged victorious after a dramatic contest.

One of the key reasons for their triumph was Alec Peters, a player who delivered a masterful Final Four performance, arguably deserving of the MVP award. He demonstrated that, beyond Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos possesses another top-tier power forward.

Despite being a two-time EuroLeague MVP, Sasha Vezenkov has a reputation for sometimes disappearing, at least at the highest level, in the most crucial games.

The Bulgarian had a very poor outing last year against Monaco in Abu Dhabi, finishing with just seven points, and was partly to blame for Olympiacos failing to reach the final.

This year, he performed at a higher level, but we can't describe Sasha Vezenkov's performances as anything more than "solid." However, even that was enough to secure the title, and the main reason for that was Alec Peters.

The American, who plays as a power forward but spent the last quarter of this season playing alongside Vezenkov at the small forward position, had an incredible Final Four.

He played flawlessly in the first game against Fenerbahçe – hitting all seven of his field goal attempts, scoring whenever needed, and completely compensating for Vezenkov's absence in the first half, as Sasha went into halftime with only two points.

He was one of the heroes of the Reds' big victory in the first game in Athens, and the same can be said for the final itself. When all was said and done, Peters finished the tournament with only one missed shot from the field. He made 12 out of 13 attempts, including all four three-pointers he took.

The former Baskonia star exuded calmness and focus in the arena of their biggest rival, Panathinaikos. Although he spent the first and third quarters on the bench, he played another brilliant game, finishing with 16 points and an efficiency rating of 26.

Peters sank free throws whenever necessary, and his step-back jumper was incredible, giving Olympiacos a three-point lead with two minutes remaining (80:77).

Vezenkov is undoubtedly a great player. However, Olympiacos showed in Athens that they also have a worthy replacement for the Bulgarian – it wouldn't have been undeserved if Peters had won the MVP award in the end.

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