Angelopoulos brothers: «For us long as we are with Olympiacos, nothing worries us»!
The Presidents of Olympiacos BC, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, congratulated the players and the coaching staff for winning a back to back double crown, the first one in the team’s history!
“These are special moments for all of us with Olympiacos, for us and the whole of the team”, Giorgos Angelopoulos pointed out. “We should not be playing coy, it’s a huge vindication. You know how ‘all the way to the end’ started, what it is and how it’s been going on. Olympiacos has won five titles in Greece during the last sixteen months, as many as in the last 16t years. I think that whatever we say is redundant. It’s not the time to analyze details, what changed and how we changed it ourselves, with our own sacrificing, our own decisions, our own cost. We begged no one, we asked nothing from anyone, we are not blackmailing anyone, not threatening anyone, not asking for anything. This is who we are, that’s where we got. I think this is one of the biggest moments we have experienced with Olympiacos and we move forward”.
On his part, Mr. Panagiotis Angelopoulos said: “This has been a dreamy season. We lost the Euroleague title in the last three seconds of the game, but tonight we made history. We continue with a double, just like we did last season. This is the first time it happens. We would only have dreamt of this season. Everyone has done an incredible job. Just like I told them before, they are the definition of a team to me, in every aspect of the word. Those who play and those who don’t play and everyone around the team. They are the definition of a team to team, otherwise we wouldn’t have played the best basketball in Europe this season. This does not come easy”.
Asked whether Olympiacos is a family, Giorgos Angelopoulos commented “I think we are. It’s obvious. We are all one, together with the players. We played fantastic basketball this season. It’s not just the results, it’s not just the titles, it’s the healthy vibe the team was projecting. In the 5th game with Fenerbahce, we had 80,000 people who wanted to be in the gym. That hasn’t happened before in the history of Greek basketball. We won the second double crown for the first time in Olympiacos’ history. These are unique times”.
Asked about the planning in vie of the new season, Giorgos Angelopoulos made clear that: “We are not thinking about expiring contracts, we are not thinking about the new season. We are celebrating. We are lavishing it. More will be done in the following days. Happy things, like the Cahmpion’s crowing, so we are not thinking about the new season. When we came back from the difficult situation we were forced into, we qualified for two final fours, we made the semi-final last season, we made the final this season. We lost them both for one shot. I think that Olympiacos is at the top of Europe. We have returned to the Greek top and we are touching the European one as well. Whether we win it or not is a result of many variables. I hope it happens in the following seasons”.
Panagiotis Angelopoulos said the following in regard to the same question: “We definitely have two days of celebrations ahead. Then, we are going to see that the team is as good as possible aiming to the Berlin Final Four. We are clear, that’s the goal”.
As for the 16-1 record vs Panathinaikos, Giorgos Angelopoulos said: “It’s something that hasn’t happened before in the history of Greek basketball. This thing too. Let’s be open about it, it’s very important. We all like it, we all wanted it. From there on, titles are more important, what we achieved. I think it’s vindication on a life stance. We have talked about all of that. This is what’s happening tonight, and it’s more significant than 16-1”.
Panagiotis Angelopoulos agreed with him: “16-1 is a tremendous record. I don’t know if it’s ever happening again. It’s certain that Panathinaikos will become stronger. We want a strong Panathinaikos, because that’s what makes Olympiacos better in the European competitions as well. But we are experiencing this now and we are enjoying it, we can’t hide that”.
Asked how they feel when they hear the ‘’till the end” motto, they said…
Giorgos Angelopoulos: «We jump up and down and sing».
Panagiotis Angelopoulos: «Vindication and joy».
About how they feel that all of the European basketball community is tipping their hats to Olympiacos, they commented…
Panagiotis Angelopoulos: “What we experienced this season in terms of recognition in Europe was never felt before. For the opposing coaches and players acknowledging that we play the best basketball around, I don’t think it has happened before. We are happy about it and we feel the responsibility to maintain the team at the top level”.
Giorgos Angelopoulos: “Admiration and respect won by Olympiacos is more important than a title. We don’t mince our words, we want the titles, but what has transpired is something unique”.