Panathinaikos BC Vice President Mr. Manos Papadopoulos took the floor in the Press Conference after Argyris Pedoulakis giving the news of an agreement with Jason Kapono (31 years old, 2,01m).
“Administration is here to do what it must. In the tough period Greece is going through, a man who puts his money in, in order for this team to endure exists. To pose as smarty pants is easy. We all know that ideal players are Bryant, James and Pekovic at center or Fotsis at PF. We need no indications. But to criticize and say that the administration is not close and that it is leaving the team to its destiny is unfair. Because someone, even this year which we all know what is happening in Greece is putting money in from his very pocket; lots of money at that. To hide behind our finger is not something we enjoy. I have been on the team 21 years. I was here even the years that as substitute for Diamantidis we could have had Navarro and Fernandez and we had such players and even better ones. But at the moment something like that can’t happen in Greece. We aspire towards having a competitive team which will be able to play versus Real Madrid and I am not speaking of a result or because this evening’s result was positive. We want a team which will challenge qualification to the next round and from then to the play-offs and if it makes it there to the Final Four. Approaching the matter gradually though, because we know the drill. The team that showcased Spanoulis and Nicholas with subs Diamantidis-Jasikevicius, Batiste and Fotsis and swaps Tsartsaris and Pekovic and behind the lot, Calathes as a rising talent does not exist anymore. These teams do not exist this season and as long as such economical conditions so much here as in the more extended economy exist, they might not ever be recreated. And the administration tries to do the best possible. Yet another player addition has been committed, that of Jason Kapono, player to be in Greece within the next two days and we will try to catch our goals”.
Papadopoulos was asked about how much of a psychological aid the win versus Real Madrid is: “I believe no such thing… Panathinaikos is too big a team to rest at a single win. I view it to be only natural that Panathinaikos would win Real. The unnatural thing is for it to lose from Real. I feel better only as far as ranking; this yes. It was a great win as far as points and in combination with Cantu’s defeat. What psychology is Panathinaikos, as Panathinaikos supposed to drive from a single result?”
