Xanthopoulos: “Let’s go with AEK to the final and there… everything happens”

THE Vasilis Xanthopoulos has already won the Cup four times but each participation in it is special. Her 38-year-old guard AEK he spoke on the EEC website about the challenges that participation in the maiden Final 8 has for his team, while he emphasized that the goal is to qualify for the final, where… anything can happen.

-What are your thoughts on the first Final 8 in the history of the Greek Cup?

“It’s definitely something different here for Greece. We have never experienced this before! On the contrary, with other countries in Europe, this type of event is held every year. What is different about our Final 8 is that a team from a lower division will be in the quarterfinals, which in other countries does not happen. I hope it will be a good event and it is in the hands of all of us, not only the teams, the federation but also all the people who will come to the stadium, to crown this first Final 8 with success”.

-Where do you think your team’s quarterfinal match will be decided?

“We are quite lucky because having the worst position in the first round of the Basket League, we were most likely to play with the first in the standings. The draw was favorable for us, however, and we will face Panionios, a historic club, which in recent years has been playing in a lower division. So we all understand that it is up to us to be serious, to show the required respect to the opponent and to go to the semi-finals”.

-What is the biggest challenge for your team through its presence in the Final 8?

“I think the biggest challenge for our team is to win the first two matches and go to the Final. From there, it will be a Final. It’s a game and anything can happen if we’re on a good day.”