Panathinaikos edged KAOD and Mike Batiste was able to enjoy his 300th game in the Greek League. He became the first foreign player to reach this number, although the word "foreign" sounds strange when we are talking about our own Mihalis.
If you don't believe that 300 games is not such a big accomplishment it remains to inform you that the second foreign player in the list is Rodrick Blackney counting 239 and the third is Mickael Koch counting 207. Important fact? Only Mike Batiste has recorded this number with only one jersey: The green with the clover.
His first game was on October 4th, 2003. It was Iraklis - Panathinaikos. The Greens lost 77-70, but he scored 17 points. From that day till now he has 3 Euroleagues, 8 Greek League titles, 6 Greek Cup titles. And also he is 4th in games played for Panathinaikos behind Alvertis, Tsartsaris and Diamantidis, 2nd leading scorer only to Alvertis (2944), 2nd rebounder only to Stojan Vrankovic (1496), 1st in 2pt shots made (1079)...
The list goes on and on and on... What counts for Mike Batiste? The titles the team celebrated, the goals the team achieved. It's the same whether we are in 2003, or in 2014, because Mike Batiste stated till today that he is -above all- a team player. He didn't even know about the 300 games...
"I didn't know about it. It's just an honor and a blessing for all the accomplishments that is going on in my career, especially here in Panathinaikos, where I am having a lot of fun and where I had the best of my career too".
-It's a little rare for one foreign player to be in one team for 10 years, reaching 300 games with the same jersey. What kept you here?
"Everybody knows the story. It wasn't planned to be like that, but at the end of the day I am glad I made the decision to stay so long and I am also glad I made the decision to come back, after being gone for one year. So like I said I am just very happy for everything that has been given to me. I am as a player very very humbled and grateful for all the accomplishments I have done as an individual and more important as a team".
-Out of these 300 games is there one you keep closer to your heart?
"There are so many of them.... Champions games cup games euroleague game and finals. But all in all every game I have been through it's always has been a test to see how good you are as an individual if you can play in top level and also if you can help your team do the things necessary for your team to win. Because at the end of the day and as long as you are a part of helping your team achieve these goals it's... perfect".
-If I asked you for a moment? A moment that you would like to share with your son in the future?
"Maybe I won't remember that. Just like I didn't know about the record after the game against Ilissiakos this year. I really didn't know anything about that and I don't keep up about staff like that. Like I said I am more focused on the team's goals and what we are here to do as a team. So, if I had to tell my kids I will always tell them about the success and the titles and what it takes to be successful, working with 14 other guys and the staff and put your individual goals on the side for the greater good of the team. I have always been a team player, I will always be the first to sacrifice everything. I guess this is my nature and my biggest title..."
