Bartzokas: «We were very serious»

At the press conference following Olympiacos’ victory over Kolossos Rhodes and their qualification for the Stoiximan GBL semifinals, Giorgios Bartzokas commented as follows.

“Today we completed the first phase of the Playoffs against a serious team like Kolossos. They deserve congratulations because they managed to achieve their main goal this season, which was to avoid relegation, and also to play two more games at this stage of the year. As for us, I would like to congratulate our players because they were very serious. Think about the fact that we had 6-7 high-level players unavailable, yet the rest of our players showed what it means to wear the Olympiacos jersey. You have to be serious, respect the opponent and the fans who come to watch you, and I think that apart from playing team basketball, we also produced many beautiful basketball plays. Therefore, we leave satisfied and now prepare for the Final Four.”

When asked about how the team handles any potential lack of concentration, Bartzokas said: “There can be no comparison. It’s important for us that every passing day is used in the best possible way, whether it’s through practice or these two games against Kolossos. At this time of the season, we don’t have the luxury of wasting time. It’s very important for us to prepare as well as possible for Friday’s game. Obviously, there is no comparison between this particular game and that one, but the way a team expresses its philosophy offensively and defensively on the court is always important.”

Finally, he also answered a question regarding the decision not to use Sasha Vezenkov: “He feels a minor discomfort in his calf. He practiced normally with the team yesterday, but because the issue persists and it’s in a tricky area, we preferred not to take any risks at all. According to the doctors and physiotherapists, he will practice normally tomorrow. It’s simply a delicate spot, so we decided not to risk it. He could have played today.”