Angelopoulos brothers: "We are proud for everything the team stands for"
The Presidents of Olympiacos BC, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos talked on the National TV stating to be proud about what the teams stands for!
“I think it’s the absolute vindication of #Until the end”, Giorgos Angelopoulos stated. “It was the most difficult and important decision of our lives in regard to Olympiacos. You have seen what has happened, things have changed. Until the end did not just stand for leaving the Greek League, it’s because we did everything our way. We decided to leave the floor then, with all consequences exclusively suffered by us, Olympiacos. With a huge cost, both financial and psychological, six million people were watching us telling us to not back down. We did not back down and here we are, the Champions, double title winners, having played in the Final 4 and I think that it’s a magical night, with Giorgos Printezis retiring, it’s the best we could have imagined and dreamt”.
Panagiotis Angelopoulos also spoke of vindication. “We could have talked about absolute vindication if we had let’s say made the finals and then whatever was to happen we would be ok, but it’s just a dreamy season. We could not have dreamt of anything better than what we experienced, sweeping the final, with seven wins in six months. We live some unique moments, which we still need to let sink in. Giorgos Printezis retiring, he couldn’t have planned it himself the way it all came down tonight. We are happy. Us, the team, the coach, we deserved what we live and the fans above all else, that has supported us here and in Belgrade, the whole season”.
Then, Panagiotis Angelopoulos talked about the extend of this season’s success for the ‘reds’. “We are making history, it’s the second sweep during our tenure as the team’s owners. History keeps being written”. Giorgos Angelopoulos agreed, but went on to analyze a little further. “Olympiacos had been the best team in Europe for ten years and has come back to the European elite, but hadn’t been able to even win a Cup title in Greece. I think you have all realized what has happened. That was what #Until the end was all about, to be able to win the cup and the championship and for everything to be normal. That doesn’t mean that Olympiacos will be always winning the championship. We many lose next year, because Panathinaikos is a very big team, a very good team, you have simply seen that some things have changed. This is not a guarantee of success”.
Asked about the feelings they experience when everyone working on the team point them as the ones responsible for the great success, he replied: “It creates a feeling of responsibility and family, because we are all together here as a family. We have succeeded with Panagiotis to inspire our principles and values to the this team and we are proud for what it stands for”.
On how he got to experience the season, Panagiotis Angelopoulos said that: “We enjoyed the whole season, but also the finals had been exhilarating. The second game had been the most difficult one, because Panathinaikos played very well in the first half, but then we were the ones to play better. I agree with everything Giorgos has said, there’s not guarantee of success, but the way the season evolved, coming back to the Greek League, it was staff of dreams”.
Asked where he wants to dedicate the title, he said: “I dedicate the title to all the fans of Olympiacos that stood by that decision, that have been supporting us all these years to the people close to us that have standing by our side in every difficult moment all these years, because what we have been through, not only during the couple of years that we were not participating the A1 League, but also years before, since we believe along with a large portion of the fans, that we should have won more championships. We did not succeed, but we endured and here we are now”.
On his part, Giorgos Angelopoulos stressed: “The title is dedicated to the Olympiacos fans. Also to Printezis of course, who has been a banner for Olympiacos and has lived through unique moments. We are grateful to him”. About how they are treated by the fans, he said: “We feel that are on the receiving end of love and adoration from the fans for what we have offered. We feel that and we appreciate it”.
Asked about the future, Panagiotis Angelopoulos said that: “There is a good core and chemistry. I think we need three additions or replacements and the team will be ready to once again to contest participating the Final Four either with a home court advantage or not, because home court is not an easy feat, the other teams are getting stronger too”. Finally, when asked how does it feel that the team has come back to success after six years, he made clear: “It hasn’t been six years without success, we made the Euroleague final in 2017, this cannot be happening every day. We are happy for what we have offered to the team”.