Panathinaikos prevailed in Rethymno, Crete Argyris Pedoulakis to comment on the game itself, while also making reference to Marcus Banks’ issue, who left the court earlier than the rest of the team. The American guard had a family matter and since it was impossible for him to fly to the USA he used technology in order to resolve his problem. He had however, for this reason, to be at the hotel at a specific time, task which was made easier praise to the way the game played out.
Pedoulakis stated: “We faced a team which makes you brainstorm a great deal in order to establish how to face it. We had therefore to be focused from minute 1 and that’s exactly what we did. Rethymno is a team which plays a swift game with rotations, so much in defense as in offense and likes to get good shooting range. Sofo committed an amazing game and we were able, led by him, to reach an easy win. Banks left because he has a family matter. He had to leave, it was something we knew and had discussed prior to tip-off. He helped out in first half in order to rest the other guards”.
Panathinaikos Head Coach was questioned about the Greek Cup Final, but refused to answer out of respect, as he stressed “for Rethymno across from whom my team was playing”.
Rethymno Head Coach, Stergios Koufos, stressed: “I feel that my players did exactly what I requested. Basically beyond technical issues, I requested that we create a big feast. It was a truly great atmosphere in the court, since we were playing across from a great team. Panathinaikos is the only team that doesn’t suit us competitively. We can’t play our game. It has Schortsanitis at the low post and we have no such player, even if we use three players all together. Granted the fact that we have won many games praise to three pointers and good range a thing that Panathinaikos does also, we thought maybe we could get lucky. But, seeing the way the game played out it was impossible to get anything more. Through creation of pick and roll and the inside game, games are won for the Greens. It was an identical game as the first round one. We are not use to playing three games in a week. Overall I am pleased. I wishall the best to coach and Panathinaikos”.
Gaios Skordilis stated: “We knew that the game could be hiding hazards. Coach told us exactly what to do, since all we had was a single training ahead of us. It was a positive thing for us that the game turned easy for our team. As far as the Final all I can say is that it is an entirely different ball game”.
Akis Kallinikidis added: “Congratulations to Panathinaikos for a fair and easy win. We had hoped to make things hard for it but we went off for a bad start. We also wanted to add good spirits to our game but we were unable to. Our mission became tough from the moment we failed to perform but few defenses during the first quarter. We can dwell no longer upon this game. It’s time to get some rest”.
