The press conference for the double series of Basket League OPAP finals took place today at Divani Caravel hotel in Athens. Fragkiskos Alvertis and Dimitris Diamantidis were there to represent Panathinaikos. Present were also the coaches and captains of Olympiacos (Giorgos Bartzokas, Vassilis Spanoulis), Panionios (Giannis Sfairopoulos, Giannis Athanasoulas replacing injured Marios Batis) and PAOK (Soulis Markopoulos, Giorgos Bogris).
Fragkiskos Alvertis stated: "It's not the first time sitting in his panel, but it's the first time for me as a coach. I consider myself lucky that in a 25 year course I have seen things from three different sides. As a player, as a team manager, doing almost nothing regarding the game itself and doing everything as a coach. The second one was not so good. A difficult period begins and our goal is as always the title. It's a series of great games and we have to do our duty. The path we'll follow is the one of the Euroleague games regarding the atmosphere in OAKA. I wish for a... European behavior in both arenas".
When asked about the different atmosphere in Euroleague and in Greek League games, Alvertis replied: "I already said is our guideline is the Euroleague games. It's not my job to make the disciplinary bylaws or to enforce it. These games are the frontline of the Greek basketball. It would be nice to present something positive also on the stands".
Speaking about the home court advantage he said: "I don't feel that home court advantage means more or less difficulty. These teams have grown themselves through difficulties and we all know very well what to do. As a coach this is the first time in a finals' series. We all know what to do. Nobody has signed a contract with success, but it's a given that everybody gives everything for the success. We finish now something which had began back in August".
Regarding the tension on the referees' issue he commented: "Personally I have never put myself in the procedure of analyzing this dispute. We are off... There are some things you cannot let the team be affected. Beside, our full schedule with travels, practices, games, video this dispute remains an "unknown" for me".
Alvertis was asked again about the violence in these games: "I forgot to tell you that beside being a player, I was also president in players' union. The last 15 years not many things have changed. Only the chronology, the date. We say the same things again and again. It's like fooling ourselves. Either we have to accept the fact or we have to do something that hasn't been done all these years. Passion characterizes us as a nation. We either celebrate or judge. It's not something we come across for the first time. I can't talk officially. I have lived this whole thing again..."
Dimitris Diamantidis stated: "I will begin with a wish. I wish for good games in every aspect. Home court advantage doesn't mean a thing. It's a plus, but it's not everything. We know we are facing a good quality team. We have to play better in order to claim the trophy. Both teams have will and passion and we are ready to give everything we have in order to achieve our goal, getting to yet another title".
Asked about the fact that none of the Greek teams made it to the Euroleague Final Four and if this fact affected them, Diamantidis replied: "There is a very big interest when Panathinaikos and Olympiacos are playing. Our goal is always the trophy. We must not consider a given that we must always be at the Euroleague Final Four. I think that we have spoiled ourselves with all this success over the past few years".
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