Fragkiskos Alvertis and Dimitris Diamantidis were more than happy at the press conference after the 5th Basket League OPAP final and the 34th league title in Panathinaikos' history. The first thing Alvertis said was a "thank you" to Argyris Pedoulakis, but it wasn't the only thing he had to say...
"I wish to begin by thanking Argyris Pedoulakis because he has a big "cut" in what happened today. I wish also to thank my colleagues Manolopoulos, Priftis and Pappas in a new phase for me. After endless hours of work, we managed to fulfill our mission. I had an obligation as Alvertis, I did my duty to do whatever possible so that Panathinaikos would take the title. Regarding the games before the Final Four, we had three good games, two here and one in Moscow. Things are not that easy. There was an enormous pressure psychologically after the break here in OAKA. But in moments like these some things surface, things that you cannot describe in words, things that you cannot interpret. It's like a survival instinct. I wish to thank all guys for the cooperation, the fans who were here next to us. Panathinaikos is more than a title won or lost.. The team continues and heading to the next day. As far as I am concerned, all this was a huge experience. A chance was given to me to acknowledge behaviors I may didn't expect. As a human being, I earned valuable experience. You can get better in this job, you learn some things on and off court. For example, I didn't know coach Bartzokas. We met sometimes for some interviews, for a press conference and I got to appreciate him as a person. I am not referring just to basketball now, but in general, as a person, outside the lines. Whatever differences we may have, remain on the court and that's it".
Asked if he compares this title as a coach, with a title as a player, he stated: "It's something completely different. Completely different mentality. It was really tough. We lost the advantage, we got it back and we got the title in the end".
Whether he is going to continue as a coach he said: "The only thing I was thinking until now, was how we are going to play today. It's too soon".
Regarding the support from the fans after the defeat in the third game, he commented: "It was very important for us in the team. They gave the team confidence and courage. It was our starting line".
Diamantidis: "Where can I go? Here is my family..."
Dimitris Diamantidis, the team's captain, stated: "I want to congratulate my teammates and the coaching stuff, the president and coach Argyris Pedoulakis, who has a share in this success. The season ended with the league and the Cup... With two titles. The team is formed by people who know what they have to do. It was very difficult to get the title. Olympiacos is one of the best teams in Europe. Today we were determined to get the victory. In the end maybe we were "afraid" to win, we wanted to end the game sooner that we should. Fortunately things turned out the way we wanted and we won. Now it's time to rest".
When asked about the element Panathinaikos was missing and presented in the last two finals, he replied: "Teams are not robots to perform always at their pick. We are twelve individuals, five players play, you cannot be at your best each and every time. Ι believe that in the games against Olympiacos apart from the tactics, you need to have soul and the right mentality and people to get you to the spirit of these games".
Regarding what Panathinaikos' jersey means he commented: "All these years this team has grown in a certain way. The mentality from the administration to the coaches to the players to everybody in the locker rooms, the physios, the doctors, they know the mentality of the players. The positive thing is that we are moving ahead despite the big changes two years ago. The team manages to celebrate titles every year. I wish that this will continue for many years to come. Sports is not just happiness and titles, but also sorrows. In the tough times we have to stick together. And I am not talking only about my team, but for all teams. If you are loved it's obvious only when difficult times arise. When everything is well everybody stand next to you".
About the fact that even in tough nights for Panathinaikos the fans trust in Diamantidis, he said: "You have to understand how i feel. I am a player, but also a man and I get affected a lot. We enter the court and we try to do what's best. This is what I want to do too. I am 34 years old, I am not the same athlete I used to be. As long as I am ok, I will keep trying what's best so that I don't expose myself and of course my teammates".
When asked if he feels that he exposed himself or his teammates and if this was a motive, he noted: "I am not that athletic anymore... It's normal I believe. I try through my experience to help. Coaches try through their plan to use my good elements and to cover my weaknesses, in order for them not to appear on court".
Fragkiskos Alvertis "cut in" in this point to comment: "Tell me who is not trying. Sorry to cut in the conversation, but this is how I feel. Each player has to try. Players don't function with a battery".
On the other side, Giorgos Bartzokas, Olympiacos' coach, stated: "Congratulations to Panathinaikos. It was a difficult year with so many games. The players are really tired and the same goes for the coaches too. I don't know which was the worse night for us. Sunday, or tonight. Personally I believe that what happened on Sunday affected us and in the first half we played without confidence and communication. Panathinaikos had confidence and it's difficult to make a comeback when you are down by 20. We got close, we made our effort, but we needed to play well for 40 minutes. The season was tough. We played for the Cup in our opponent's home court, in Euroleague we played against the best team in Europe, Real Madrid. We played with home court disadvantage, while the 3point shot by Spanoulis didn't allow us to play against CSKA Moscow. What happened on Sunday, decided the outcome of the finals' series. Congratulations to everybody in Panathinaikos for the title".
Regarding Spanoulis he said: "He is our natural leader and I decided to support him, as much as I could and as I felt I ought to do. This team was built around this player. I was with him before the game, during the game and now".
When asked whether Olympiacos didn't justify itself during the series he stated: "I wouldn't want to use the word justify. I want to talk only about basketball. We had to do something better in the fifth final under these circumstances here".
Bartzokas was asked if Olympiacos loses just because of basketball, or psychology is a factor too, he said: "You don't want to characterize it as a complex, but you want me to say it. When Panathinaikos was playing without Gist, everybody talked about his absence. And the players of Panathinaikos too. We played without Mantzaris and Law and nobody said anything. Everybody was saying about sweeping last year. Every series, every season is a different story. Now, all these are good stories for the journalists. This is what I feel".
Whether the season was successful or not? "Of course it's not successful. We reached the end without a title. We got close to many things this year, but for some reason we didn't manage to achieve our goals".
Brent Petway (Olympiacos, player) said: "The game began in a bad way for us, just like in the fourth final. In the second half we tried to comeback, but it was too late and too difficult in an arena like this. We must not begin like this in the games. Panathinaikos has great players and it's difficult to make our way back to the encounter".
