Fragkiskos Alvertis expressed the belief that Panathinaikos has what it takes to win on Sunday at SEF and lead the series to a fifth game and back to OAKA.
"Olympiacos played better for 30 minutes. We didn't got into the rhythm of the game until it was too late. During the last quarter we played as we know how to play, but it's not enough in games like this. These games begin long before the tip off with individual and team effort. We didn't manage to get the win and the series heads back to SEF. We have to fight in order to return the series back to OAKA. We have two days to prepare ourselves. We have to function better and to feel more free and to make some of our usual shots. We didn't shoot the ball well behind the arc".
Regarding the fact that the roster of the team has become "smaller" he stated: "I definitely expect something more from everybody. And especially from players who have played big games like these in the past. Each player stays on the floor as long as he deserves to be on it. I expect something extra from some players. Things I know they can offer".
Asked if there is pressure mentally in the team, he replied: "Pressure regarding the result? But we live all the years with this pressure. I don't believe that there is a player who can't handle the pressure. You have to learn to live with this pressure".
Asked whether Panathinaikos wasn't ready, he said: "I didn't mean that the team wasn't ready. I said that we needed 30 minutes to get into the game the way we should. It's a matter of mind to change our image at SEF. We have to react! We have to be ready!"
Mike Bramos (player, Panathinaikos) stated: "Olympiacos got to a 10 points margin in the third period. We tried to make a comeback, but we didn't manage to do it. We have to go to SEF to tie the series in the fourth game".
Giorgos Bartzokas (coach, Olympiacos), stated: "I think that we managed to control the game. Panathinaikos got only one lead at 2-0. Generally we had a very good game defensively and offensively. We did what we had to do. Panathinaikos pressed us with through the offensive rebounds. It's the part of the game we fell short, but we had the way to win. We were focused defensively and offensively, with the exception of the offensive rebounds. Panathinaikos is an experienced team and they don't give up. The win is important for us. The series is heading back to SEF. The game will be difficult. You can never say it's over. We have to work on our tactic and our psychology. Nobody underestimates the team of Panathinaikos. I don't how much the way the game ended will help or not. We always respect our opponent".
Asked about using Collins in the last quarter he said: "When we had a 15point lead, we begun to play with the time. We didn't play fast and we stopped moving the ball and ourselves. Collins gave us that possibility when Panathinaikos pressed the ball, he was one more guard on the floor in a forward body. We wanted a bigger body on the changes on the ball when it went near the basket".
Asked if he was afraid at the end of the game he replied: "When you do this job you cannot have fear. It's something that repeats itself. Panathinaikos has built an empire through the titles. Because they have a good team and because of other reason in here. The way we played showed we weren't afraid. Olympiacos has proven during the last three years that the team is not afraid. We did our best".
Asked whether Olympiacos feels invincible heading to the fourth final, he replied: "No, we don't. We know that everything can happen. We definitely don't feel invincible".
Regarding the help he expects his team to have from the fans, he commented: "We want the games to be judged on the floor. Fans are calmer because of all the success this team had during the last three years. If somebody believes that fans can decide the outcome of a game he/she is wrong. Games are decided by the players and their decisions".
Giorgos Printezis (player, Olympiacos) stated: "Today it was a really good win. I don't want to say too many things, but in order for this win to count, we have to be serious on Sunday. We were more decisive today since the tip off, something we didn't do in the first final. Nothing is over yet and we have to ready and better in the next game. We were good, but we made mistakes that can cost a title. We have to take care of all details and to enforce our rhythm. If we do these things we will approach the win we need. Today, at the end we almost lost a game we had control off. Maybe we found our rhythm today from our game in SEF. We had better percentages, we made the big shots, we played well in defense and we didn't have these "dead" periods we have in other games. The way we got into the game in the first final isn't a mirror of the ream image. We were working for this game for a long time. Last year's finals made us more decisive for this year's finals. The second game was really important. Our work came out on the floor".
