The statements by the Presidents and the coach after winning the double
The Presidents of Olympiacos BC, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos appeared to feel vindicated immediately after winning the double!
“This season is a historic one”, Panagiotis Angelopoulos pointed out. “We came back to the A1 League category following two years of absence. We won the double after 25 years, we ‘swept’ the second finals series in our time since 2009 and most importantly, which we have probably haven’t completely realized yet, we made seven wins against Panathinaikos in six months. The coach and the players need to be congratulated for making it through the season. They remained together when things got tough, they reacted in the right way following Euroleague defeats, as well as that one against Panathinaikos. It hasn’t been easy. We don’t play the Euroleague by ourselves. Succeeding after finishing twelfth last season, to finish second in the regular season this year is something historic. Even if we all start searching together, maybe we will not be able to pinpoint all the great things we have done this season. We are happy. There is a good core to continue into the next season aiming to the Final Four and the domestic titles”.
On his part, Giorgos Angelopoulos pointed out: “Many congratulations to the coach and the players. They are the protagonists. They brought in this magnificent season. I don’t know if the coach believed this would be the case when we met to bring him back to the team, that we were going to live moments like that together again. The situation at the time was very difficult, but I think that was the reason we decided to move on together. It’s a vindication of #tilltheend, of the historical decision we had made with Panagiotis back then. That decision could have taken Olympiacos apart. We stood on our feet, we stayed together in very difficult situations with the team, carried the burden on our shoulders. It was a decision everyone had thoughts about. At first we heard that Olympiacos was not going to be playing in the Euroleague. We did play. Then they said that we could not only be playing the Euroleague, we were going to relegate… There were obstacles each time, which were nevertheless dealt with. There has been huge financial and psychological impact in regard to these decisions, but we are vindicated. Things could have gone a different way. You can realize what has happened. We don’t need to be saying much. Just like we said a little while ago… There is no guarantee that Olympiacos will be permanently successful in the years to come. Until the end meant that we left something we felt, together with lots of people, wasn’t meeting certain standards. We did not ask for anything, we did not threaten anyone. With our decision and paying the cost, we made that bold decision and you can see this amazing season we have had that has surpassed everyone’s dreams and expectations”.
As expected, they were both asked to make a comment of Olympiacos’ Legend, Giorgos Printezis that announced his retirement last night.
“Printezis apart from an exceptional player is an exceptional character, an amazing human being”, Panagiotis Angelopoulos said. “The talks for his previous renewals, as well those when we wanted his input on the team, had been pleasant, not in the sense that he would be telling us things that we wanted to hear, bur rather reflecting the way he deals with sports, basketball and Olympiacos had a magnificent ‘crazy’ that we are going to be missing for sure. He’s a practice player, he has worked for countless hours and is a role model. He has definitely been one of the best power forwards in Europe. We are happy to have lived all that we have lived with him and he with us during that amazing time. We wish him the best in his life from here on”.
Giorgos Angelopoulos talked about ‘Pri’s’ work ethic as well as about his character. “He’s an amazing athlete, he has worked unbelievably hard. As a person, he has given all he had to the team, he bonded with the team, the team embraced him and supported him. He has given everything to the team and finished in a way only a handful of athletes have succeeded to. After a successful season, with titles and meeting apotheosis in our arena. It’s the most magical moment an athlete can dream of. We are grateful for everything he has offered to Olympiacos. We have lived with him and some of the other guys some of the most beautiful moments of our lives. We are never going to forget the Euroleague final in Istanbul and not only that. There our countless games that his participation had been of the essence, not only at the buzzer, but also on all of the team. I wish him the best and we wish to sincerely thank him”.
The Olympiacos’ BC owners also consider it a ‘medal of honor’ that Vassilis Spanoulis had chosen to retire as an Olympiacos’ player. “To have that happen, it means that there is an organization that can support all this. These are two titles, the way these two huge athletes have finished their playing careers”, Panagiotis Angelopoulos answered following a relating question. Giorgos Angelopoulos answered as well. “We are very proud of that. We were able to contribute into that happening. We honored them in the best possible way, both Vassilis and Giorgos. They have been two amazing athletes and people and that shows our stance towards basketball and how we celebrate people like them”.
On how is it that Olympiacos has succeeded to steadily maintain a core of players, Panagiotis Angelopoulos commented: “It’s the good family atmosphere. We have had a lot of foreign players to have become a part of it, but it is mainly the Greeks that understand our ‘crazy’ and the love we have for the team, the bond we share and we always support each coach in our bench. That’s a feeling everyone one the team shares, especially the Greeks. I think that’s the secret”. Finally, when asked to make a comment on the accusations directed against the League, he said: “We have no comment. Each one has to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions and choices. These things are going to be judged. It takes calm and composure and we definitely need a competition with teams that can cope, even if the number is smaller. I’m not implying anything. It would be great if we have 14 teams that are financially healthy. We’ll see”.
Finally, asked about the signings in view of the new season, in regard to Nikola Milutinov’s presence at the SEF, Giorgos Angelopoulos made clear: “There are no thoughts right now. First of all, we are going to be talking with the coach about our collaboration and planning the next day. There’s no point in talking about names. Nikola has a contract with CSKA. This team deserves to fully experience these moments, the apotheosis and the joy. Everything in its own time. Be patient”.
STATEMENTS BY COACH BARTZOKAS
Giorgos Bartzokas did not hide his joy about winning the double. The coach of Olympiacos said the following…
About this season: “Following such a season, such a performance and participation by the fans, there’s not a lot to say. I’ll try to be as reserved as possible. I would like to congratulate the presidents for visualizing and planning the team, the fans that supported us, the players that translated the club’s idea into a team that would be fighting each and every game and winning and to everyone who has worked here in the past ten months. We played a total of 75 very critical games, our effort has undoubtedly been noteworthy, it was sealed with two titles, our qualification to the Final Four and finishing the season we are all happy and proud for Olympiacos”.
About the fact that he got to celebrate his first Greek Championship despite already having won the Euroleague years ago: “Panathinaikos is a great team and the competition is hard. Winning and losing needs managing. The situation has been different now that we got to play again. I now have the feeling that the best team wins. There have also been in the past seasons when Panathinaikos had been better and won and seasons when they had not been. Everyone with Olympiacos have had a certain feeling about how things had been and how they are now. There’s not doubt that this season we were the better team. We made a lot of records, in wins, points scored and that doesn’t only have to do with the players and the coaches, but starts from the top. I’m not saying that aiming to flatter our Presidents. During a very difficult time for the team, we spoke with the Presidents and the only thing I asked them was ‘what their motivation was after everything that had happened with Greek basketball”. They told me that they were greatly motivated and that’s how I made the decision to return. We won the Greek Championship and the Greek Cup this season, but also taking into account our whole course this year, I can’t say if it had been easy or difficult. Numbers show it to have been easy, but it’s always difficult due to Panathinaikos and it’s always difficult for a team that doesn’t have the right to lose according to their fans. You don’t have the right not to succeed. Everyone knew that Olympiacos just had to win the double. We won and that’s very important”.
About Giorgos Printezis: “We first worked together in Larissa, he had been a promising young players that had no role with Olympiacos. That season helped both Olympia and him as well. He had been an extremely fast and athletic forward, who during the course of his career, with unbelievable amount of work, became one of the 2 -3 best forwards in Europe. He attained amazing footwork and handwork. He based his incredible technic on those two, his signature shot was developed with extremely hard work. He had been an example of devotion and faith in the team. Not only on his part though, but also on the part of the team. Because the team, any time that they had to decide to keep him in its ranks, they did that. He has had a dreamy career, but the time has come to retire. I wish that he experiences the same kind of great moments from now on with his family”.
On whether the basketball Olympiacos played this season was the closest to what he wants: “I’d say that it was a team that I enjoyed coaching, in the sense of its readiness to play. I had had the same feeling with Kuban also. And in 2013 but also in 2014 we have had teams that overcame great difficulties and played good basketball. Luck plays a role in all of that. We got to play 75 games this season but we didn’t have any major injuries. That plays an important role. Last season, Papanikolaou was off the team for six months. It was a matter of luck, but also of the incredible work we’ve been doing here with a fantastic group of trainers, physiotherapists etc.”
About the importance of the Greek Cup final: “It was really a very important game, the players say so themselves. We showed to be better all in all. It was a key game, because we won a title, but if a team has value, consistency and they believe in one another, they are going to be getting what they deserve. Losing a title would have caused ripples, but I had faith in the team. We lost the chance to play the Euroleague final due to three by Micic, otherwise we had a good chance at winning the title. The team fed off from being doubted. Some people were saying that no Greek team will see another Final Four for 20 years, but hey, it did happen”.