Tavropoulos: “Basket League is a goal for Panionio”

Panionio’s coach, Periklis Tavropoulos, spoke to EEC Web Radio about the team’s promotion to the Elite League, the goal for the Basket League, the progress in the second national team, but also the reinforcement that the team needs. Analytically:

For the promotion of Panioni to the Elite League: “A goal was set by the management, promotion, where if it didn’t come it would be a failure. The management gives the direction and the goals, the coach if he wants to accept the goals and in what way they will be implemented or not. I accepted, building a team starting from 0. It’s a big job that we succeeded with 10 new players, budgets don’t make the team, 10 players got it, 10 started from 0. Last year Panionios was saved in the last matchday from relegation to the 3rd national team and this year 10 new players arrived. You also have to manage characters to build a team and then automations and racing. This was achieved with great effort by the same children and by my partners, because they put themselves under the team. Budgets count, but if you don’t build the chemistry and through it you don’t “hunt” for them to love each other and throw themselves for the good of the team, there won’t be success. I believe that this is what we achieved and thus the goals set by the management were realized.”

On when he realized the team could achieve its goals: “In the first 4 games we won, there were problems with how these characters would “tie” and even though we won, I said I wasn’t happy with the basketball they played in the first month. Having 10 new players is not easy. After the first month and throughout the year, as far as neutrals go, we’ve played some pretty good basketball. This filled us, it filled the children, they felt good, they understood that success comes from the whole and not the individual, it came.”

For the goal of the new season: “I can’t decide what will happen next year. When we spoke to the managers last year, the goal was for the team to go to the Elite League and then to A1. The goal exists, but when it will be realized we do not know yet. Certainly the main “trunk” must stay, but the team also needs strengthening. Let’s not forget that apart from Iraklis and FEA which we won on a neutral ground, the other matches in the Cup and against Elite League teams were at our home and many of those victories were hard won. Many teams did not have a foreigner, others did. In my opinion, not as the coach of Panionios, but with what I lived and live, the team needs reinforcements to climb A1, since this is the goal of the people who took over the fortunes of the club”.

On whether he will remain in Panionios next year: “It is a given that in order to “build” something good you must have chemistry and this will happen by having a “body”. Last year many kids signed a 2-year contract, I simply gave my hand when the president said to sign, because I have reached an age where I want to enjoy what I do. So a discussion must be held again, they should propose what they told me last year and if I accept them we will move forward together. The goal, however, since last year is again promotion.”

For those who… kept Panionios in the Second National League: “Last year when the team was fighting last year to stay in the Second National League, these few Panionians kept it in the Second National League with sweat and blood. Let’s not forget those who kept the team there and we were able to “build” a new future”.