The Panathinaikos Head Coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, stated at the Press Conference: “Through the entire series but also today we competed under dire circumstances but managed to prevail fair and square. We were more focused; we have been working all season long, covering quite some millage. We work all year long; in certain games, which did not suit us, we chose to perform in a 5Vs5 formation. Olympiacos is a better team when it comes to the open field. We had head-count issues throughout the entire season and were aided in this department by the additions that were made. We broke their home court advantage twice, something that has never happened before and all this is credited to our guys, the players who unraveled great will on court. I would like to thank the elders of the family that created this team and Dimitris, Manos and Alvertis for giving us the chance; but above all the players. Basketball is all about the players. That is why they exist and we dedicate it to our fans. We also had to carry this concern”.
Pedoulakis added at the end, that there was an issue about the non competitive matters that followed the finals series: “It is unfair to us so much now as in the previous games all that is going on now, to comment on things out of basketball. And I would be unfair on our players, who put in a great effort, if I also commented. Since the 28th of December Diamantidis is playing with one foot. He can neither put his weight on both, nor follow through the entire practice session. We tried to hide Dimitris’ issue, help him with injections prior to big games. It was impossible for him to be absent in any sense, since it is not only his competitive activity but also his significant role in the team. All this, is unfair. We have stated it again and again but I believe that during the entire series the Panathinaikos players were the protagonists; and in the previous game also. All the rest is of lesser importance. The main thing is the way the game was played in bounds. Tsartsaris had a great game, Diamantidis outdid himself in order to both keep the team together and play, him facing this injury since December 28! This is the important stuff”.
Stephane Lasme, one of the protagonists of the finals series, stated: “It was a tough game out there today. With the help of the technical staff, which did an amazing scouting job, we managed to prevail. We had adjustments for every play. Olympiacos is Euroleague Champion and the toughest team I have ever come up against to challenge a title in my entire career”.
