Panathinaikos’s performance and victory with quite a large score gap against Maroussi, retrieved positive remarks from Zeljko Obradovic.
The greens’ Head Coach stated: “It was a fame in which we practiced our offense across from zone defense. We must improved it. We must read the defense and react accordingly. Because the most simple things are the best. Browsing over the stats and cannot bring to mind any other game in which all players have dished out the ball. This shows that there is team spirit. Some players competed exquisitely and will help us in the Euroleague. Today we were informed that an issue with a strike is pending and the date of our departure is not a done deal yet. Maybe it will be tomorrow (Monday, 29/11), maybe finally and as initially planned on Tuesday. Good luck to Maroussi, I believe they will be a better team when Gagaloudis returns and with the addition of Bagaric to the team squad”.
In reference to who easy it is for him to prevail over the other teams in the Greek League, Obradovic said: “It all depends on the opponent team. But also the situation that exist on your team. We like to use all players at our disposal. In tough Euroleague games if it is possible, to give rest to certain players or give them more competing time”.
Finally, as far as youngster’s Zoubos’s first ever appearance in the Greek League, Obradovic stressed: “First of all, we thank Andreas Pistiolis from our technical staff. He is our link to have control over the U-18 team. He is always in contact with the U-18’s coaches. They decide who will come along to help in the men’s practice. Every time I had the opportunity to allow them to compete, I tried to do it. This boy was perfect in offense this evening! For a 17teen year old kid, newcomer to the Greek League this is something extremely difficult to achieve. He committed certain mistakes in defense, but that is how they compete in the U-18 squad. All these young players have a swarm of people around them telling them where to go, how to play, what to do, but the only person they should listen to is their coach. If they wish to become something special, it is entirely up to them”.
As far as the upcoming clash across from CSSKA (1/12),he underlined: “Every time a team changes coach, all players wish to prove that for the team’s image, the only one who was to blame was the coach. It is always the coaches fault. That is our life. It is easier to substitute 1 person, than 12. All CSSKA players will be highly motivated to compete and prove that for all the bad stuff it was the coach’s fault”.
Kostas Kaimakoglou, stated: “For me it was a special game, because with Maroussi I went from being a boy to being a man. I was glad to see many faces I have collaborated with in the past. I always stay close to the team’s stride and I hope it steers clears from the risk of dropping a category, because it deserves to be in the top league, after all it has succeeded. As far as our performance, we came back from a bad appearance hopping to win behind a good game and thus were highly motivated. From now on we have a game in Russia which we must treat as a final and not repeat the mistakes we made facing Valencia”.
Vagelis Alexandris, Maroussi Head Coach, said: “It is the first time after 20 years that I come to face Panathinaikos and have to play so passively. Today, for the first time I did not play man-to-man but used a zone defense for about 30 minutes. I know coach Obradovic gained nothing from tonight’s game. I wish him all the best next. From the minute Gagaloudis was injured we were expecting very little. So much Akepsimaidis as Weeden seemed to be facing “turbulence”. We broyght along Bagaric and with Gagaloudis’s return we hope to present an assembly that will be able to remain in the category” he stressed.
Felix Kojadinovic stated: “We tried to do the best we could. But Panathinaikos is at a much higher level than us. We did not play well. We must focus on next week’s game. Panathinaikos is the best team in Greece and played supremely”.
