The Panathinaikos delegation returned to Athens on Tuesday morning (September 17) completing its historical trip to China. Argyris Pedoulakis commenting on the team’s presence in the Asian country, so much on the competitive as the out of bounds matter, commented:
“It was a very significant and great experience for all of us. We interacted with a different basketball philosophy. We visited schools, university campuses and got to see how they face basketball in China. It was a new experience for all of us. Even though it was exhausting, it was a very constructive trip for the team.
One of the many merits for Panathinaikos from this tour was that it became a recognizable brand, it expanded its name in a country where they do not know us and we do not know them. The Chinese approach basketball in a different manner than us. Even though they overall culture functions in favor of the mass, in basketball they are affected by the NBA and focus only on one person.
However, I am certain that as time goes by they will change it. They are also making the same mistakes we did when basketball was changing in our country; they base a lot in the foreign players rather than the natives. The exact same mistake we did. This can be remedied through experience, which comes with time. I believe that this trip might be the start of the collaboration amongst the two continents. We are leaving in the era were international frontiers are falling”.
To conclude in his statements, the clover head coach also commented on the team’s preseason course: “The truth is that this trip set us off track a little, but we gained so much. Now we are turning the page, we are expecting to get our international players and enter a more intense program. The boys will be here tonight, we will speak to each one of them on his own, evaluate their condition, then the necessary exams will be committed and they will be incorporated into the preseason course”, he noted.
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