«We are experiencing magic!»
The Presidents of Olympiacos BC, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, talked about the team qualifying to the final and described how they got to experience the great return…
“We were very worried. Of course, there was not any moment when we thought that the game could not turn in our favor”, Giorgos Angelopoulos commented. And he went on to say: “The basketball played had a lot of contact. However, I think that Olympiacos can manage that style of playing. What we witnessed in the third quarter, we obviously could not have anticipated. I think it’s something never done before in the history of basketball. It’s unbelievable. I think we still haven’t realized what has happened. It’s fantastic. We believed in the team, but we were also worried. You are always worried in basketball. There’s no arrogance, the worry is always there. Up until the end”.
On his part, Panagiotis Angelopoulos said: “We were worried. I personally saw Monaco playing tougher than they had played the whole season. I was counting how many free throws we had missed, nine in the first half…” At that point, Giorgos Angelopoulos intercepted, reminding him that… “I told you to stop counting!”. And Panagiotis Angelopoulos went on to say: “The truth is that they forced us out of our playing style in the first half. Two of our main guards had two fouls apiece and that made moving the ball more challenging. Then though, up to 27-2, I was counting each basket. The third quarter is one of the ages. We definitely made history. At this level, running a 27-2 score when you are trailing by 12, is a testament to the character, the soul of the team, the quality of our players, the fans that are here… 5,000 of our fans are here from the other end of Europe. We are experiencing some extraordinary moments. We are again in a final!”
Asked if this team can be compared with any one from the past, Giorgos Angelopoulos replied: “It’s one of the most thrilling moments we have experienced with Olympiacos up to now, but we continue”.
On whether this team has something different in comparison to the previous ones that did not make it, Panagiotis Angelopoulos replied: “They are a team that played its second semifinal in two years. We lost to Efes at the buzzer last year, this year we won after trailing by 12 at half time. They are family, they have experience and homogeny. Compared to last year’s final four, which has added experience and it showed tonight in the second half, the only difference are three players different to last year’s. This team is compact, however, if we have to compare with previous ones… There are some common denominators, for instance with 2013 and these are Papanikolaou, Sloukas, Bartzokas. What we are experiencing is magic and we need to calm down to discuss them”.
About if there is anything different been made in terms of administration, so that Olympiacos is among the elite of European basketball, Giorgos Angelopoulos said: “This team is a global phenomena! But we are going to analyze all of that on Sunday if we are blessed and lucky enough to lift the trophy”.
About Olympiacos the upcoming final is the 9th one… “There are so many final fours, so many finals… In 2015 and 2017 we were at the final, in 2012 and 2013 we won, 2009 and 2010 final fours again with finals…”, Giorgos Angelopoulos pointed out. Asked whether Olympiacos participating the final is a vindication for them and the fans that believed in the team, Giorgos Angelopoulos made clear: “We have nothing to prove. Olympiacos has done an amazing season. We all want to conquer the top of Europe, but we are already performing amazing basketball and the whole of Europe acknowledges it. That’s no easy feat. I don’t remember that happening again, having your opponents acknowledging your and singing your praises. That’s the most important things. Hopefully we make it. What has happened in the 3rd quarter, that’s who Olympiacos is. We were able to show what we are”.
Finally, it was asked from Panagiotis Angelopoulos to choose his own MVP. “It’s a difficult question. If you can choose anyone apart. I wouldn’t choose one, since we have two players with 17 and 15 points apiece and Sloukas organizing the game the way he did… You cannot be choosing one player, you can’t”.