The Panathinaikos BC President, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, stated: “After a very successful transitional year to end in conquering the Greek League and the Greek Cup, we start to rebuild the next five years’ Panathinaikos which will mainly be based in Greek first line kids. Hence it would be impossible for us not to show an interest in Nikos and Vlado. I welcome them to the Panathinaikos family and my hope is for us to celebrate numerous trophies together”.
Vladimiros Jankovic stressed: “The manner in which the Panathinaikos President approached me and his behavior towards me won me over and left me little room to give it much thought. He persuaded me that he believes and bets on my abilities. Granted that I was both President and Coach’s choice I would like to thank them for trusting in me. From now on I am a member of the greatest team and this makes me content, added the fact that I will be teammates with Dimitris Diamantidis, whose presence is the cherry on top, in my decision. It is not the time to say much more, I prefer to “speak” on court. I would however, like to thank Panionios and especially Mr. Ilias Lianos who supported me and offered me opportunities in my career. Without him I would have been unable to reach were I am today. Mr. Lianos and the Panionios people will always be in my heart because they stood by me like family. My mind though is in Panathinaikos now and on how I will achieve to help the team accomplish its goals”.
Nikos Pappas stated: “To become a member of the greatest team undoubtedly fills you with an intense sense of joy. At the same time however, it fills you with a huge sense of responsibility and this I know well. I cannot hide though, that it was the dream of a lifetime to wear the Panathinaikos jersey and conquer titles with this team. I have the will to live up to the great challenge that opens before me and I promise to work hard on a daily basis so as to help the team to accomplish its goals and justify all who believed in me, the President and the Coach most of all, while I can’t wait to get out on the court and work alongside my teammates. Now is not the time for words, but for work”.
Vladimiros Jankovic
Vladimiros Jankovic was born on March 3, 1990 in Belgrade and found himself in Greece following his family and his father Boban when he signed on for Panionios (1992-93). He is 2.02m and competes as a Small Forward. His first steps as a basketball player were made in the Panionios academies, team in which he remained up to date. Only parenthesis a season he competed in Serbian Mega Vizura (2008-09). In the major league category he competed for the first time in 2007. He has come a long way since then, reaching at the end of this year’s competitive season to have been named Basket League OPAP second round MVP not resting at this. He was third scorer of the league behind 428 points, first rebounder (228) and third in ranking (579), unraveling exuberance on the floor, contributing in many departments of the game.
National youth teams have played an important role in his stride and his development, since he chose Greece to be his basketball home land. He has conquered the 2008 U-18 Men’s European Championship gold medal, the 2009 U-19 Men’s World Championship silver medal and the U-20 Men’s European gold medal, the 2010 U-20 Men’s European Championship silver medal.
Nikos Pappas
Nikos Pappas was born on July 11, 1990 and is 1.95m. His basketball talent was impossible to… stay hidden and from very early his name became known mainly through the national youth teams. At age 16 he found himself at Panellinios were he remained until 2008, when he would strike an agreement with Bilbao, from which however he was borrowed to Real Madrid’s second team, only to return to Greece, initially borrowed to Kolossos Rhodes (2009-2011) and then a free agent to go to PAOK (2012). The stability he was seeking was found to a great extent in Panionios during the past season. Pappas had the opportunity to unravel all his talent and win over impressions being named Basket League OPAP first round MVP and having been named MVP of the game day many times through the season. He was the league’s top scorer behind 589 points, fourth in assists (108), first in steals (66), first in ranking (623), fourth in economy (94), first in fouls drawn (184).
The most important chapter up to date in his career is that of the national teams, distinctions and titles finding their way to be added to his biography every season. He has conquered the 2007 U-18 Men’s European Championship silver medal, in 2008 the U-18 Men’s European Championship gold medal, the 2009 U-19 World Championship silver medal and the gold medal in the U-20 Men’s European Championship, in 2010 the silver medal at the U-20 Men’s European Championship. And at the same time, first call to the Men’s team in 2009 for the preparation period. He was named to the all tourney team in the 2008 European Championship, the 2009 World Championship and the 2010 European Championship, while in the 2010 European Championship he was top scorer of the tournament.
PHOTOS
