The Presidents' statements following the qualification to the F4
The team Presidents, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, got to celebrate one more qualification to a final four, the third in a row in the last three years and the 9th total one.
"I feel pride, joy, vindication", were the first words by Panagiotis Angelopoulos. "It's the third final four in a row. We made history once again tonight. It's a first one, and all the more in Barcelona's home court. It was a game with too much physicality, and I guess that the winner was the one who wanted it more, that means us".
Asked if the winner was the most deserving team, he replied: "I think yes. It was a tough series. Barcelona is a very difficult opponent. But Olympiacos has metal, chemistry, faith, trust, even during hard times, even when trailing the score. Also, we always have players who step up and they are not always the same ones. That's what makes Olympiacos even more difficult for the opponents to play against".
On whether this 'metal' was what changed the team's psychology following the defeat in game 3, Giorgos Angelopoulos said: "The whole team got even more determined after what happened. From there on, it was a battle between giants, that was decided by details at the end. We played against a very good team, that played very well and strong".
About the significance of the achievement to consistently qualify for the final four in recent years, despite the fact that competitors get to spend exorbitant amounts of money, Giorgos Angelopoulos stressed the following: "We've said it before. Since when the format of the Euroleague has changed, we have been to nine final fours, which is a tremendous success of its own. Three back-to-back ones. Legendary players for Olympiacos have left in recent years and Olympiacos remains at the top. This is something unique. Plus, that our budget, if I'm not mistaken, is the lowest of the Top-8. All these successes have been achieved with very low budgets. That's a world phonomenon. No one will get to do it. So, let's enjoy it, let's experience it and let's explain it at another time".
Asked if he feels luck owes the 'red & whites' something, Panagiotis Angelopoulos commented: "This question is a frequent one, even by friends. It's not a matter of whether luck owes us to win it, compared to losing it in the last four seconds of the game last season, or losing in the last shot of the Belgrade semifinal. The thing is for the players to get on floor determined against Real Madrid and then go to the final and fight another battle. The point is to beat Real. I believe it's a matter of skills, faith in the coach and the players, faith in one another. We have had very serious injuries during the season. The team was re-enforced and overcame very difficult situations. When a team loses core players, it's hard to re-build chemistry. Other European teams as well, Barcelona, CSKA, Real have also made three back-to-back final fours, but not with our budget. When your budget is 40 or 50 million, like CSKA's, then it's not such a big achievement to make the final four. What we have been doing is unbelievable".
When asked to make a comment about coach Bartzokas, Giorgos Angelopoulos said the following: "Giorgos Bartzokas is the best coach in Europe in recent years. He has been proving it time after time. You can all see what kind of basketball Olympiacos has been playing, under how much adversity". And he went on to say: "You also need luck in sports. That's a fact. But I think this team deserves to experience even bigger moments. We don't need to talk about what has happened, everyone knows that, we don't need to talk about it".
On whether he would choose another opponent for the semifinal and if you would like to face Panathinaikos in the final, Giorgos Angelopoulos said: "When you play against the reigning European champion team, you cannot entertain these thoughts. Real is probably the best team, the most complete one in Europe. We have a very big semifinal game ahead of us. Now, in terms of rivalry, it's a given. The point is to not have toxicity along with it. Unfortunately, toxicity has made a comeback and that's something very dangerous for sports. We have to address this issue and condemn unacceptable behaviors. Toxicity is dangerous, rivalry is healthy".
Panagiotis Angelopoulos added on the same issue: "The goal is to qualify over Real. If we succeed, no matter who the opponent is, either Fenebahce or Panathinaikos, it's going to be a tremendous final. Both teams are very good. We never choose opponents".