The Championship won in OAKA
Olympiacos won over Panathinaikos 82-81 in OAKA after two prorogations in the fourth final of the Basket League SKRATS Play offs, won the series 3-1 and hence conquered its second championship in a row.
With the huge Vasilis Spanoulis scoring enough for three players, Olympiacos won following a thrilling final and won the title of the Greek Champion.
THE DEFENSE: The Piraeus team defense was amazing for all 50 minutes of the game. Olympiacos only received 63 points during the regulation due to a superb defensive game.
THE OFFENSE: The offense, with Vasilis Spanoulis leading, was on fire. Each time the 'greens' were taking the lead, Olympiacos had the solutions and the answers and was either closing in or gaining the lead back. Four players of the Piraeus team scored two digits and that says a lot.
THE MVP: Vasilis Spanoulis. This man has changed the history not only of the Greek, but rather of European basketball and led his team mates to a title-victory. Spanoulis finished the game with 25 points having scored 6 threes while the last one decided the game.
KEEPS, FORGETS: Keeps the title to Piraeus for ever. Forgets the bad European season that denied the team yet another Final Four due to a large number of injuries during the season.
THE POINTS
The quarters: 16-19, 35-31, 50-52, 63-63, 71-71 (1η παρ.), 81-82 (2η παρ.)
Panathinaikos (Pedoulakis): Charalampopoulos 4, Fotsis 6 (1), Fedlein 5 (1), Calathes 12 (2), Papagiannis 7, Pappas 16 (1), Diamantidis15 (3), Gist 15, Williams 1, Heins.
Οlympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Papapetrou 3 (1), Spanoulis 25 (6), Milutinov 2, Mantzaris 13 (3), Papanikolaou 13 (1), Hunter 14, Strawberry, Agravanis 8 (2), Hackett 4 (1), Lojeski.
THE QUOTES
GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS: «I want to say that from tonight on Greek Basketball is poorer due to Diamantidis' decision. He's a world class athlete that has honored Greek Basketball and taken it to a higher level. He's an athlete that such a small country like Greece rarely has the chance to produce.
It's a great day for our team. It's a day when history is written. I'm very proud for our players and our team, our course, all those who make the team, the players, the administration, the staff, the Olympiacos fans that tonight are so happy with the team.
We believed in this game. We wanted this game badly. It was a very nice game, an ad for basketball. A final decided after two prorogations. We were better for most part of the game. We kept Panathinaikos at low standards for a second home game in a row. We were certainly lucky as well. It was very important for us to have built quite a good difference amidst the third quarter. It was there that we got to believe even more. Managing the game was tough, in such a burning home court and against such a good team, while Lojeski's absence was added to that of Printezis'. However, we were calm, we believed and we got lucky. We had the last ball during the regulation, we were lucky with the offensive rebound and the three by Mantzaris, but also with the great shot by Spanoulis. We believed in the victory to the end, we never gave up. Neither at the end of the first prorogation, nor at the end of the second one. We made some big shots, some lucky ones like that of Agravanis', but if we take out the first 15 minutes of the first final, I think that we were the better team for the rest of the games. It's tough to beat Panathinaikos twice in their home court in a row and if you win these games you deserve to be Champion.
We are very happy to have satisfied the Olympiacos' fans. I would like to dedicate this championship to Printezis, for showing his character. We dedicate this championship to our Presidents who are always by our side and help us work without distractions. We dedicate the championship to our fans as well who behaved in sporting spirit the whole season. I wish that the finals take place in front of fans who represent both finalists. We saw many positive aspects tonight that we need to mention. Mr. Giannakopoulos' visit to our locker rooms, the one of Spanoulis' to the Panathinaikos' ones. I wish finals with fans of both teams can take place with no incidents whatsoever. Congratulations to our players for their work and their faith during a tough season, with many injuries and upheavals. All these caused an upset. We lost some games we shouldn't have lost, we did not get to go the Final Four and despite all that we worked even harder to improve. We only last one game here for the Greek title, gained the home court advantage and I think that it is only fair we won the championship. We need to remain humble, continue working, I believe in our team and we need to improve it and become even better. I wish to thank all my associates, each and every one of them gave their best. I wish that all games are held with no violent incidents from that point on, just like we have witnessed this season".
About agent 'luck': "We were lucky in both our victories in OAKA and in SEF. I generally think that we were one click better than Panathinaikos. Luck was on our part during this season. The whole time following our disqualification from Europe, the whole team worked free of injuries. Luck comes your way eventually, all is a cycle. We have lost many games at the end, we won some now. The most important thing for a team is to remain true to its values and to work seriously and responsibly".
As for whether this season's championship was more important he said: "This season's was more difficult, because Panathinaikos was much better. Mr. Pedoulakis joining the team helped them play even better, however, at the end we were also better than earlier in the season. It's easy to reach the top, but not so to remain on it. I think we deserved it. Luck is always with the strong side".
Vasilis is the leader of this team. He has a special role. All the guys helped, Papanikolaou was exceptional. Spanoulis is the captain and the one to always give something more. I have already made my introduction for him to remain with the team, I believe that he also wants the same thing, the administration wants the same as well, so there is no reason for him not to stay.
It was a deserving win of the Championship. The players have guts. We played very well in the play-offs, we only lost twice during an entire Championship season. The team has strong 'metal' the players have faith. I don't know yet how to measure this title. The important thing is to stay humble. There are going to be many good and also many bad moments. Unfortunately with basketball bad moments are more than the good ones".
On the transfers plan: «The good thing is that Olympiacos has a solid body of Greek players and this is a great advantage. Olympiacos, has Mantzaris, apart from Spanoulis, Printezis and Papanikolaou, for whom I put pressure to obtain, we wanted him during last summer and during Christmas. They are four players that form a basic body. Alongside, the big bet and our big win is the addition of two more players, Agravanis and Papapetrou. I believe that they gained a lot of experience this season and we now have six players of a high level, without dismissing others, like Athinaiou, Tsairelis, Toliopoulos or Mouratos. I think we won a bet and feel vindicated for the choices of Agravanis and Papapetrou. When you have these two kids with your roster, as a coach, it would be criminal of me to not give them minutes and preferred foreigners ahead of them. They need to stay humble, they have a lot to give so they need to keep their feet to the ground".
About the transfers: «Additions or releases will be made according to the team needs».
DANIEL HACKETT: «We went to locker rooms of Panathinaikos to pay respect to the way our opponents fought. It was an honor and a blessing for me to share the same court floor with Diamantidis. I'm very happy for our fans all over Greece. They all supported us and deserved this title. We dedicate it as well to Giorgos (i.e. Printezis), who lost his father and of course to our coaches. It was an exceptional season for us. The finals were an incredible battle. Each game was a battle. It was crazy to once again win in OAKA with a buzzer beater. But it was meant to be that way".