Statements from the Presidents after qualifying for the Athens Final Four
Olympiacos qualified for a 5th consecutive Final Four after a 3–0 series win over Monaco, and the team’s Presidents, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, spoke from Gaston Médecin about this historic achievement.
Giorgos Angelopoulos spoke first, commenting on the accomplishment: “Congratulations to the team. It’s been an amazing season so far. I think it’s a huge achievement to reach a 5th consecutive Final Four. No other team has done it, except CSKA under a different EuroLeague structure back then. Among the teams currently competing, Olympiacos is the only one achieving this. We finished first in the regular season and I believe we’re playing the best basketball. It’s not just about one Final Four; you can see a journey, a path, and we all hope to go all the way to the top of Europe.”
Panagiotis Angelopoulos then added: “It’s a historic achievement; 5 consecutive Final Fours in this era of the EuroLeague, with so many games where even the last team can beat the first. Congratulations to the team, the coaches, and everyone around it. It’s a huge accomplishment. We’re not stopping here. We’ve read countless times that we reach Final Fours but don’t win the EuroLeague. What experience has taught us over the years is to wait for our semifinal opponent calmly, with greater maturity; nothing more.”
Regarding the fact that the Final Four will take place in Athens, Giorgos Angelopoulos commented: “Olympiacos has played in Madrid, Istanbul, and other major venues over the years. Now it’s not on our home court, so Olympiacos cannot be considered the favorite. What needs to happen soon is for a Final Four to be held at the Peace & Friendship Stadium (i.e. SEF). That’s what we expect and want. The works will begin immediately. The fact that it’s at our opponent’s home court is a peculiarity, but I don’t think anyone is really focusing on that.”
Panagiotis Angelopoulos added humorously: “The biggest problem is that people, since they won’t have to pay for flights and hotels, won’t leave us alone. That’s the biggest issue.”
When asked how much basketball and Olympiacos have changed in recent years, Panagiotis Angelopoulos said: “On the occasion of these 5 consecutive Final Four appearances, we should mention that there are 5 players; three of whom are still active (McKissic, Walkup, and Papanikolaou), along with Fall and Larentzakis, who have been part of all 5 qualifications. They deserve special credit today. Basketball has changed; it’s become faster. You analyze it better than we do. We’ve lived it with patience and always with the belief that what we’re doing is right. Reaching last year’s semifinal in Abu Dhabi and losing, or losing the final to Real Madrid in Kaunas; these things are all part of the game. You don’t have a contract with success. What defines you is continuing to fight no matter what happens. That’s what characterizes me, my brother, and the philosophy we’ve instilled in the team.”
Giorgos Angelopoulos also commented: “These 5 years weren’t a straight line. Each season is different and has its difficulties. We won’t analyze everything now. Back when we started, the budget was different. The team came from the second division and reached the Final Four; that was an incredible success and cannot be dismissed. A Final Four is a success, no matter what people say. Of course we want the title. Whether a shot goes in or not, you can’t know. We all do everything we can, we and the team, to win that title. But Olympiacos’ status among the elite of European basketball is undeniable. Of course we want the title; desperately, there’s no doubt about that. It’s our life.”
On the progress of the new SEF project, Giorgos Angelopoulos said: “Work on the auxiliary arena will begin very soon, and once the championship ends, the rest will follow. The tender process is completed. There’s a lot of work, but we’re doing very well.”
Asked whether the total of 15 Final Four appearances shows long-term recognition, Giorgos Angelopoulos replied: “100%. I’ve had the fortune to be part of all these Final Fours; first as a child and fan, and now in this role. It’s been an incredible journey, with highs and lows. We’ve experienced everything. I hope we experience the best moments of our lives soon.”
Panagiotis Angelopoulos then added about his own presence: “I’ve only missed one. I’ve attended 11 out of 15 since 2009. I missed one because I was in the navy; I was stopped at the airport.”
When asked if this year’s team is the most dominant in recent years, Panagiotis Angelopoulos said: “You could say that. The closest was the 3–1 against Prokom in 2010, but it was a different kind of basketball then. Even if we had lost one game, it wouldn’t mean the team isn’t dominant. Monaco made a huge effort to get here, and that doesn’t diminish our team’s value. It’s the same team, with some absences, that beat us in last year’s semifinal. Teams have continuity; not just Olympiacos, but our opponents too. In previous Final Fours, like in Kaunas, they challenged us. Last year we needed 5 games to qualify. ‘Dominance’ shouldn’t make us complacent because, as we’ve seen, a semifinal is a completely different story. We must stay focused and wait to see what happens.”
Finally, when asked what would happen if the EuroLeague were decided by a series instead of a Final Four, Giorgos Angelopoulos said: “I believe that if the finals were played as a series, Olympiacos would have at least two more titles. With the way this team has played in recent years, no one can beat them in five games. Losing on a last-second shot doesn’t usually happen over 5 games. Even opposing coaches, executives, and players say this. The NBA model is fairer, more competitive, and more entertaining. But this is the system, and you have to adapt to it. Whether we like it or not doesn’t matter; you have to play by the rules. It’s not an excuse. As a fan, I prefer a series now, though 10–15 years ago I might have answered differently.”
Panagiotis Angelopoulos added: “In 2012, if it were a series, we would never have beaten CSKA. But in recent years, I’d prefer a series at the SEF, whether with or without home-court advantage. Still, we shouldn’t diminish the magic of the Final Four as a concept. It may not be the fairest system, but it has a certain magic. We’ve experienced that ‘magic’ many times, but we accept it all the way.”