"We are defending the Final Four participation and the Championship title"

A big and interesting interview was given by Mr. Panagiotis Angelopoulos for the cameras of NOVA TV immediately following the BasketLeague SKRATS draw 2015-16.

The President of Olympiacos BC talked about all that was said during the event, the team's goals for the new season, the first derby's between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos that come early on in the season and the increase of spectators in basketball gyms.

Mr. Panagiotis Angelopoulos' interview for the cameras of NOVA immediately following the 2015-16 BasketLeague SKRATS draw.

QUESTION: You received the award for best team, the Champion team of last season, but I want to focus on something else. You told us about it, but I want to focus elsewhere. We listened to statements in regard, to unity, sportsmanship, very nice things. Let's keep these statements and wait till they prove right. What can we expect from this season's League? Do you expect even a fraction of what was said to be materialized?
ANGELOPOULOS P.: The apology on behalf of Panathinaikos is certainly important no matter who it was read by. I mean that the President and the actual owners did not speak but the person that did speak represents them and we respect that. I wish we witness all of that to become a reality. That we don't witness the same things as last season.

QUESTION: Greek basketball is ready to draw a line and say what is done is done, from now on we are working for the benefit of basketball without incidents renounced both by you and Panathinaikos.
ANGELOPOULIS P.: I wish this can happen but we need to remember what has happened up to now. Draw the line? I agree that we should not aggravate the situation, but some things need to be done, certain decisions have been made and they have not been implemented yet. We are not the ones to express the justice system.

QUESTION: No, I'm not talking about pending decisions, but rather about things that can happen from now on.
ANGELOPOULOS P.: We agree with the spirit. And Panathinaikos showed good will tonight.

QUESTION: Olympiacos 2015-16. What difference do you expect to see? What do you plan together with the coach?
ANGELOPOULOS P.: The coach is planning, not us. An even stronger team. We have a better roster, both for the '5' position and the guards, we have tall bodies, strong guys that can play from position '1' to '3'. Strawberry, Hackett. The team is solid, there is a main core that continues.

QUESTION: Is the team a little taller with Young plus Milutinov?
ANGELOPOULOS P.: That's what I'm talking about in regard to the centers. When your third center is Milutinov, you have become stronger. During a season that has to play so many Euroleague and Greek League games, the fuller and stronger roster you have, the better.

QUESTION: Yes, because you have to defend being the Euroleague finalists.
ANGELOPOULOS P.: That's what you have to defend; your goal is to make the Final Four. From that point on, you fight. And yes, you have to defend the championship.

QUESTION: About the championship. Panathinaikos went through a tough transition last year. Olympiacos was dominant, swept the series with 3 victories. Do you expect a tougher battle this season?
ANGELOPOULOS P.: Let's remind of course that the record last season was 5-0 victories and this doesn't happen often. I don't know if Panathinaikos has done this against us. It may have been so in the past. But it's not something that happens often. I think that Panathinaikos is going to be stronger this season. With the center position and they also got a very good coach. I believe they are going to have a stronger team.

QUESTION: What do you think of the early derby? On the second day.
ANGELOPOULOS P.: I like early derbies. There are always excuses, you are not completely ready. There is always something.

QUESTION: So, whoever loses has an excuse?
ANGELOPOULOS P.: I'm not saying that. It's nice to watch the teams not completely ready. We are going to watch them completely ready in May.

QUESTION: It's a challenge to play when not ready.
ANGELOPOULOS P.: It's good, the interest for the fans is great, the coaches try all new systems early on, so this is also good for our Euroleague games.

QUESTION: Something last. Mr. Chalvatzakis spoke about increased fan attendance. Are you optimistic that the fans will be returning to basketball gyms, just like they have been doing in the last couple of years?
ANGELOPOULOS P.: Yes. We have very increased demand for our season tickets this year. Very important increase and we hope that these people, that mostly comes to our Euroleague games, will start coming more to watch our League games as well, because the level will be good, teams have been re-enforced and it's worth watching these games. With the Euroleague anxiety for the victory is greater, the Greek League games are more relaxed, we are also going to have noon games targeting families. These are nice things.