The 2013-13 season began today for Panathinaikos. Behind ambitious goals, new faces, a few-justified-absences and one piece of bad news. The Greens began preseason preparation today at the OAKA and will be continuing it tomorrow and up to September 3 in Karpenisi.
Everyone that made statements spoke of aiming high but also about the hard work that must be put in. Ping Shang and Nikos Pappas were two of the new guys to be present for the team’s first assembly, but present was also a new… but old person… Mike Batiste. Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Antonis Fotsis and Vladimiros Jankovic amongst this season’s additions, have obligations with the Greek NT, as does also good old… Mike Bramos. Ramel Curry, due to a personal issue, is expected in Greece on Thursday (August 22). Stephane Lasme attended, but essentially must be added to the list of absentees, since he is facing an issue in his knee (bone swelling) and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month. He will remain in Athens to follow therapy. Giorgos Apostolidis, Dimitris Kobodietas and U-18 team members Giorgos Giouzelis and Edinosa Erebenanzie will be helping out in practice. .
Pedoulakis: “Aiming to acquire unison”
The Panathinaikos Head Coach, Argyris Pedoulakis, wished a good season to all, only to add: “Good season everybody, health to friends and foes, since that is the most important thing in life. On our team we have good characters. The thing we are aiming to acquire is unison. Let us not forget that last season and every season there where teams which at this respective moment of time were great but came up with a different image down the road. Our goal heading out to Karpenisi, apart from building a great team, is for us to continue to be a family”.
As far as the signings, Panathinaikos’ new faces, he stated: “What we had stated is that we wanted to work on enhancing our Greek element. We were falling back in this department. On the other hand we maintained our main backbone, something really significant in order to maintain our homogeneity”.
Pedoulakis mentioned that “the element of surprise does not exist, because all teams know each other well” only to conclude: “We reached the point we were aiming to, through the experiences we won during the season. We improved a great deal and it showed during the finals. This season, start-up is being made from a more advanced step. But still we have things to remedy. This is exactly what we are going to try to do during the next few days. It is a minus that we have absences, but our goal is to be as prepared as possible when the time comes to begin our obligations”.
Diamantidis: “Titles are still the goal, but one step at a time”
The Panathinaikos leader, Dimitris Diamantidis, stated: “The main thing is for us to be healthy. The first stage of the preparation we all know is very special; it is all about tough work and physical conditioning, for us to work on certain things and try to play good basketball”. As far as the return of Fotsis and Batiste, he stressed: “They are two guys we know well from the past. We know them well and we know exactly what they are capable of doing. It is a certainty that they will help the team, just like they have done before in the past”.
Diamantidis also referred to the team’s goals: “The goals are always at high standards. When it comes to words, all is well. However, answers essentially, are given out on court. We aim towards gaining all three titles, but we will take it one step at a time in every competition and at the end we will see what we have accomplished”.
P. Shang: “I knew Panathinaikos before I signed!”
Ping Shang arrived in Greece this morning and this afternoon was present at the OAKA for Panathinaikos’ first assembly: “I am excited to be in Panathinaikos. My goal is to assist the team as best as I can. I really like European basketball and it is only natural that I knew Panathinaikos from before. Way before I ever signed for the team”.
M. Batiste: “My second home”
One of the broadest smiles recently in Panathinaikos’ first assembly was Mike Batiste’s. He is happy to be back and is not hiding it: “I competed for years in Panathinaikos. After a year in Turkey, I am genuinely happy to be returning. I have had numerous unforgettable moments here. Now we have to work all together in order to achieve all of the team’s goals on yet another occasion. Most of the players on the team I know. Even the players with whom I have not been teammates, I know them because I have faced them as opponents. Hence it is easy to get to know them and also get to know their game manner. Panathinaikos is my second home. I am a winner and I want to reach many victories”.
N. Pappas” “I am not ungrateful”
Nikos Pappas is one of the newcomers to Panathinaikos, one of the Greek players that the team acquired this season: “The goal is to challenge all of the titles. From that point forward, I will try from my side to do the best I can for the team”. As far as the Greek NT, Pappas stressed: “Even though this is Panathinaikos’ first assembly, I must tell you that I am not ungrateful! I have gained so much from the national team; I have experienced joy and success. I will be there on every opportunity I am summoned by the national team. I acknowledge every single this it has offered me!”
