The Panathinaikos BC president, Dimitris Giannakopoulos and the team coach Argyris Pedoulakis, held a Press Conference today at the OAKA in reference to the season which just came to an end, but also the competitive season which essentially has already begun for the clover.
Dimitris Giannakopoulos stressed in all his initial statements: “This time last year in the ocean liner named Panathinaikos, only three people had remained: Fragiskos Alvertis, Manos Papadopoulos and myself. And thankfully as far as the competitive part, Diamantidis and Tsartsaris stayed on. We had to see what we would do with less financial means in comparison to other years, doubted by friends and foes. I should have had a pack of publications with Argyris, entire posters with protagonists marked out with X’s, with referendums. Those who did all that are not here today and this makes me happy because it means they were unable to face us. They must have even taken down the mirrors around their houses. First choice for us on the bench was Argyris (Pedoulakis) and it is a common fact that he not only justified our choice but also, had there been previous seasons’ budgets we could have achieved even greater accomplishments. I would like to thank him and he will be with us not during the next season but for the next 5 years in order for us to build the new Panathinaikos, to make the Panathinaikos fans be able to walk around with a smile on their faces just like we did this season. We committed mistakes, as is only natural in any attempt. There was the will to correct them however. We corrected any mishaps and the result justifies us. On a personal level I would like to thank my family, Pavlos and Kostas Giannakopoulos, Katerina (Giannakopoulou), Kostas and Dimitris Panagoulias. And I would like to say yet another great thank you to Thanassis Giannakopoulos who was next to me 24 hours a day with advice for any issue I might have been facing. All together in unison, using this season’s experience legacy, next year’s work has been made easier. Hard work all day long next season also. It is the ingredient that will bring us success next season. I would also like to apologize to the people for the conditions under which the two encounters versus Barcelona were committed. It was very hard to control the whole of Greece that wanted to come along and celebrate the games also. We had no such incidents in the past and we will do anything in our power so that they do not repeat themselves in the future. For us the most important thing is that we won the people’s bet. I believe that the people will put their arms around us this season from minute one and through the season tickets they will be next to the team in any way possible”.
Next spoke the Panathinaikos Head Coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, who stressed: “A season ended; the big bet which was recognition of Panathinaikos still being here and I believe the bet has been won. We started off for a very hard attempt. The president, Manos and Fragiskos made me the honor of handing over to me the steering wheel of a great club. We maintained Panathinaikos’ elements, as also one basic feature, that there is a family atmosphere. In the interpersonal relationships solidarity and respect exist. This is the same approach the guys had when it came to the competitive part, something which was obvious on the floor. We wanted first of all to win the bet with the people. Panathinaikos has been left back when it comes to Greek infusions. We have begun to power up the Greek element for many reasons. Titles came along and it was something even better for our fans and especially all who tried inside the very team. Conditions are tough and a huge effort is being made as far as the team’s budget where we tried to keep our logistics settled and not be set off plan. You might be able to do it for one or two years, but it is not the right way to act. We have such examples through football. It might pay off for one or two years but in the end you will have to pay a price for it. We will look amongst the more young ages. Panathinaikos will be next to the young players and it will try to bring them to the team if we believe them to be worthy of coming along. I would also like to thank those who created this club, the elders who made it a great brand name throughout Europe. The president for giving me the opportunity to work in this club, Manos and Fragi with whom we went through a lot this season, the staff and I do not mean only my immediate colleagues but everyone! And I would like to thank the fans who were with us from day 1. It is only logical when you act by your will, certain reactions will occur. It is not irrational. The team functions with the fans. The Panathinaikos fans are a great source of energy and it showed this season”.
Next president, as Panathinaikos coach answered questions…
*D. Giannakopoulos (about if he felt good in Panathinaikos and certain about this new attempt): “From the very first moment I felt good. I knew that Manos and Fragiskos were next to me and that on the bench I had a man with years of experience. There was great trust in Argyris. I believed from the very beginning that things would turn out fine. When you build something from the start, it is only natural that great things cannot come from the start. The result is what justified us for the options we made”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about Argyris Pedoulakis staying on): “It could be no other way. He is completely successful. Nothing else could be done, than him staying on. Zeljko Obradovic is Europe’s greatest coach. We have the second one and we will continue with him”.
*A. Pedoulakis (about the criticism made on him also on a personal level): “I believe that I have stated my views on this in public. I will do it once more to answer the question. The greatest part of the crowd sensing that Panathinaikos is going through a very tough season, wanted to be next to us and help us. Another part was close to us, functioning based on sentiments towards those on the team and it also is only natural! A very small part went over the line of strict judging, reaching the verge of ridicule towards me, but this I also understand. It is a job, where certain people had something to win and they faced it in such a method. When you lose something that offered you a profit it is only logical. Others did it straightforwardly others hide behind pseudonyms. I never paid much attention to all this, I didn’t want to; it never got to me on a personal level. Only once it annoyed me and I told Manos (Papadopoulos), when by manipulation it went to reach the team. When it reached such an extent it bothered me. If it is only towards me I do not care. I know it is part of the game. When it has an effect on the team it annoys me”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about the penalty awarded to Olympiacos): “The penalty has been announced but we have to wait because there is also the ASEAD (sports court). We will see where it will end up. I hope we don’t hear something strange. It is the third time… In 2010 the game had never ended also, in the Greek Cup final they never showed for the awards, this season the final was never allowed to end. For basketball and championship worthiness’ best interest an extra game day without fans should have been awarded. I would like to think that it will not be diminished and that an extra game day will be added as the law clearly states”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about next season’s budget): “We have already begun discussions about how next season’s team is to be built. It will depend on which players we will have so as to empower Panathinaikos more than last season. The more front line Greeks and young guys we bring along the more positive it will be. I do not know the specific figures yet. We want to have a more specific discussion with coach in order to reach a result”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about trying to calm down the Panathinaikos-Olympiacos relations): “From my side, many attempts were made. Even the last time I went to EFIP I asked the Olympiacos legal advisors why the Angelopoulos brothers did not show, that my intention is for there not to be war, in Greek basketball’s best interest. I have not reciprocation to any of my motions. It is a question you must pose to the Angelopoulos brothers. When you have no correspondence it is impossible to do anything all on your own”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about the meeting with Euroleague): “In the meeting we discussed all Panathinaikos’ positions, what we believe just for our club, about the penalties, refereeing and organizational matters. Our relations have started to smoothen. Maybe they have understood, because we proved we had done everything in our power during the two games with Barcelona. People even broke down doors to get into the stadium. Neither the people’s will, neither the police, neither the security was able to restrain them. Even Mr. Bertomeu himself explained how he faced this in 2007. I believe that we are on the right path, so Panathinaikos will be receiving the respect it should be receiving”.
*A. Pedoulakis (About next season’s goals): “We are not playing on our own. Basketball is a team sport and you also have opponents. We must fight at every game. And we can check our balance at the end, as we did this season. I had said you could make strict judgments but at the end. Now we wish to create a team, set goals and see what all the others will have done. Greek basketball has the expertise. We cannot spearhead our attempts based on money as in the past. With expertise and heart we will get certain aspects covered. We are waiting to see what the Russians, the Turks and the Spaniards will do. We have a core of players and with heaps of hard work and getting into the club they will walk down this road. The Panathinaikos jersey is the heaviest one all around Europe with all the pressure that exists. The new guys will need time credit, because they are entering a high level in Euroleague. It is not good enough, to simple be able to perform well as a player; you must also be spiritually gifted. Panathinaikos has a particular aura that makes you feel part of a family and if you stroll out of order it will set you back on the right track as a father would a child”.
*A. Pedoulakis (about if it was an easier project last season when he built a team from scratch or this season): “When you have to pick 10-12 players it is tougher, because conditions in the society were different last season; and the atmosphere which existed, of Panathinaikos allegedly falling apart made things even harder for us to be able to approach certain players. You are not shopping from the top shelf. It is easy to say I want Saras with 3 million euro. No scouting is needed. You know what he can do. We can no longer get such players. We will search for players like Lasme or Gist last season, who will get to the next level with us. There are guys who cannot handle Panathinaikos’ pressure. We faced this also. When you are in the major league of sports it is different. If you play 30-35 minutes you get a pace. Here you might play 10 minutes and then have to play again for the last three. You need to be prepared. Frangi for me was a good example; he could do exactly this. He could have never played at a lower level. That is the way he was taught from a young age”.
*A. Pedoulakis (about Stephane Lasme’s contract renewal): “There is nothing new. Panathinaikos has made an exceptional effort. We have given him a time limit to answer in order for the team to be able to follow its plan. He helped us immensely, he evolved a lot with us, we direly want him with us, but at the moment there is nothing new”.
*A. Pedoulakis (about signing Pappas-Jankovic): “The two guys are taking it to the next level and we must not drive them crazy. They are coming along to grasp the great opportunity. We have all made mistakes in the past, when you are young it is impossible to avoid it. Seeing the guys of their generation that have made huge progress on a European level they too must follow, but primarily they must be incorporated. They are mature enough to make the next step. They do need however a time credit. Calathes needed time to adjust during his first season. Time is needed until they see what goes down in Euroleague. There you must be entirely focused; there is no room for extreme sentiments neither of joy neither of sadness. You are in airports, hotels, games. That means you must be very tough. They have the body, the talent and the technical features to make a step forward”.
*A. Pedoulakis (about renewing certain players and the matter of overvalue): “It is a matter of administration and economics. Last season we were running around trying to create a team. It was not easy. Lasme came along at the last minute; Gist did not want to come because he was afraid of the economical crisis in the country. All this offers us experience and instructs us to book certain players for more years of a contract. There are certain security conditions. This was something the team couldn’t possibly do last season. No one wanted to come! We wanted the players and wanted to make a team quickly so as to be able to become exactly this, a team. With the guys we are negotiating now we very rarely speak of a single year, in order to deal with overvalue. This happened in the past also. Certain guys who left were very valuable, but I believe Panathinaikos has already paid overvalue. It had the best coach who evolved them. Overvalue however a Panathinaikos achievement is also, because it helped the players. We no longer discuss about a year. We want a second and a third year also and you will see it in the announcements to follow”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about if he feels justified at the end of the season after the criticism he was receiving almost this time last year): “They made a mistake. I believe that the result justifies me. We had to do well, regardless what was said or written. Panathinaikos is Europe’s greatest club and it must remain at a high level. Whatever I said, I said for the world to know upon a probable mistake what they read and from whom. Who are the ones who write things because we actually did make a mistake and who are the ones who write things on purpose in order to trip our stride”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (if he felt that he received blows below the waste): “This happens in all departments. We were clear. Even when certain people implied shady matters about basketball, we input an immediate take on issues and had the State on our side from minute one. We had stated that shadows should not exist and if needed, we would even offer a support in funds in order for these shadows to be lifted. If I am not mistaken, and correct me if I am, Olympiacos never remarked on the matter; minus Mr. Bartzokas who honorable to him, stated that controls should be issued”.
*A. Pedoulakis (about the probable arrival of Fotsis, who will cover the void left by Tsartsaris): “Fotsis is not yet a Panathinaikos player. The club is discussing with him, we are not going to hide it. But Kostas cannot be compared, because I do not like such comparisons. As a man, Kostas made an exceptional decision which took guts. As a coach I can say that it upset me a great deal. If we had other… circumstances I would conscript him. He is a player who helps out in many departments. This season it was only him and Diamantidis. The umbilicus cord was cut with major sports league. Things were tough. Olympiacos did it in football and it took it 10 years to get its next championship. These two players helped out in many-many departments. Even the national team that got to great success based its efforts in 4-5 guys who were great altruists, amongst them both Diamantidis and Tsartsaris. Competitively and basketball wise he is one of the greats. Even in is athletic swan song he thanked the fans for the support and mainly towards the team. We will really miss that”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about if Tsartsaris will remain in the Panathinaikos BC): “First of all we are trying to make him change his decision; to stay as an athlete in the Panathinaikos family. Since he insists on his decision the gates will always be open for him. He wants to rest and that is respected. People like Kostas are always welcome”.
*D. Giannakopoulos (about what his father, Pavlos, said to him after conquering the championship in his first season as president): “I didn’t win the double. We all won on. I was lucky because my father had not inherited all this knowledge I did by his side. I might have not been active in an administrational manner but I was always next to him. I learned a lot and I was aided by all these years he has been in Panathinaikos. What did he say to me? “Is the championship over this early? 3-0 versus Olympiacos? Is it true?”
*D. Giannakopoulos (about Dimitris Diamantidis’ contract renewal): “Diamantidis is the greatest player and the best person. Our intention is for him to stay. If it were not for him, we would have, we will have many issues. Thankfully, it is a matter of days in order for this deal to also be settled for us”.
