The first gathering and practice of the new season for Panathinaikos took place today in OACA (Olympic Athletic Center of Athens). The players that were present were Fragkiskos Alvertis, Nikos Hatzivrettas, Stratos Perperoglou, Drew Nicholas, Dimitris Verginis, Dusan Sakota, Aris Tatarounis and the 14year old Yannis Dimakopoulos. Mike Batiste is expected to land in Athens tomorrow, Panathinaikos’ players of the Greek National Team will be present on the 3rd of September and Sarunas Jasikevicius will follow a couple of days later. After that the team will have to wait for Nikola Pekovic and Dusan Kecman, who have obligations with the national teams of Serbia and Montenergo respectfully, till the 20th of September. Which was the common ground on the statements of all players and Zeljko Obradovic a few minutes before the first practice? The fact that Panathinaikos can do nothing less that to set a target for all the three titles (Greek Championship, Greek Cup, Euroleague) in stake
Zeljko Obradovic: “It’s the beginning of a new season and we have some new faces among us. We start today without the Greek players of the National Team and also without Saras, Pekovic, Kecman. This is the only problem we have to face. I believe that the most important is to have a good atmosphere, like the one we had the previous years and also to keep in our mind that for one more year we are going to play for the fans of Panathinaikos”.
Fragkiskos Alvertis: “It’s a new beginning for us. We have some new faces in the team, but at the same time a new challenge to face too. Our first target remains to become a team. The new members of the team are becoming part of the whole very quickly usually and I believe that the same thing will happen this year too. We have the same goals every year, the three titles we can get in one season. We have a tough period ahead of us and we’ll have to wait and see how we shall react when the time to play comes. About Olympiakos… They have a lot of new and good players. The competition grows bigger, but that is what is keeping us upbeat and raises the responsibility we all have towards the team”.
Nikos Hatzivrettas: “My first wish for the new season is health for everybody. We all have the will to work hard to be the team we must be. We need to say nothing about the goals of the team, because they are the same every year and we all know them. We want to be very strong and at the end of the road to be in a position to conquer titles. We have a tough and long road ahead of us. What do I have to say about Olympiakos? Everything is judged on the floor. Olympiakos has a strong roster, like other teams in Europe. We’ll work and we’ll see what is going to happen. The answers will be given only on the floor. The game is the mirror for every team”.
Dimitris Verginis: “I am happy to be here. I am now part of a great team, according to my opinion the best in Greece and under a coach who is the one of the best, if not the best, in Europe. I will try to help as much as I can. I would also like to thank the Yannakopoulos’ family, because they all made me feel like a part of a big family. It’s something that makes me happier and it is a great help for me, trying to adjust the sooner possible in this team. We have to work very hard. It’s a great opportunity for me to work with the best coach and some of the best players in Europe, so that I can become better. My hope is to help even a little bit Panathinaikos to achieve its goals”.
Dusan Sakota: “When you wear the uniform of Panathinaikos the only thing you can feel is pride. I am very happy to be back. What can we say about the goals? Panathinaikos must not speak about goals. It’s a given that we have to fight for each one of the three titles of the season. The target is to repeat what we did in 2007. Personally, I had a good season in Panionios, I gained experience. I had good and bad moments that help a player gain his balance in the game. I believe that the ingredients I was lacking before, they are there now with me, hoping to help my team as much as I can”.
Drew Nicholas: “Everything begins today. I am excited to be here. These first days of preparation are as important as the first days of the games that will follow. We have to prepare in the best possible way. Right now I think that we must focus only in our team, to focus on how to become a solid team. How to become a team that will continue to bring success, like Panathinaikos has done the previous years”.
Stratos Perperoglou: “A new year begins with the same ambitions and goals. We want to conquer all three trophies. The road isn’t easy and we know that. A lot of work must be done and today is the day we’ll begin working. Olympiakos has added some new faces, some good players. We must focus on our team though, to build a strong team. I believe that we’ll see some very good games this season”.
