Serelis: “Olympiacos is the favorite, but Panathinaikos has a ‘must'”

Statements after the victory against Peristeri bwin and the qualification of Panathinaikos to the finals of the Basket League, made by Christos Serelisspoke about the lack of chemistry in his team, anointed the Olympic favorite to win the title and made it clear that the “greens” will have to present themselves well for 40 minutes and mentally ready, so as to make it difficult for the “red and whites”.

In detail what the coach of Panathinaikos said:



“Congratulations to the players for today’s victory and qualification to the final. It was a fair win. I think we controlled the game in the first half as well. We had a period in the last three-four minutes of the second quarter where we missed 4-5 very easy baskets. With Gudaitis, with Ponitka, Manjuka. Under the basket. Easy points for us. And this created an irritation for us and gave Peristeri the right to reduce the difference and close the half at two.

“We talked about it at half-time and we said to the guys that we had to play the defense that we had played in the first 15 minutes and with that defense we could win the game. Something that happened. In the 3rd quarter we were very good defensively. X-factor in the attack was Agravanis who helped us a lot. And we got a difference which we kept easily. After a strong series we succeeded and made it to the final. I want to congratulate Peristeri for the year they have had this year. He rightly proved that he was in 3rd place in the regular time and I wish him good luck in the short final”.

On whether the players think what is written about the “tomorrow” of the club: “We have many issues at Panathinaikos and we are trying to solve them all together. The players don’t think about it at all. I don’t think so either. Despite the issues we have, we haven’t shown that they don’t care about the present or think about their future.”.

On the lack of chemistry ahead of the finals: “Because Panathinaikos doesn’t have many automations, let’s not hide, and because it hasn’t found chemistry, it should start, finish, live, think and die with its defense. As often as the defense is strong and solid, we are also better in attack. If we think from the attack to win the games, then the defense becomes very bad. Not only in Panathinaikos but in general in teams that do not have good chemistry. Olympiakos will need much more. Let’s be good 40 minutes in defense because we are playing with a team that has been performing very well all year. He lost the EuroLeague in the last three seconds, so a half or a quarter is not enough for us. In the 40 minutes we will have to be very focused and do something more than what the tactics require”.

For Williams: “He’s another player who I can’t say is in rhythm. Coming here we tried to put him in a different mold which is not easy to fit into after 6-7 months in the team. Possibly many times, an attacking talent, we deprive him of it because we want other things. We have spoken with him, the season is ending”.

For Papagiannis: “Georgos has inexplicably put too much pressure on his head, on his mind. Either because he is the captain and the team is not doing well, or because he wants to prove things. It is certain that he loves the team and wants to play well. Spiritually he needs support. I’m sure the guys have to see these matches as an opportunity, an atonement for a bad year.”.

For the finals: “Olympiacos is the favorite. But until there. Panathinaikos has what it takes because it is the team with the most titles. And this ‘must’ passes. If you don’t manage this ‘must’, then it costs you. What is certain is that in order to make things difficult and stress Olympiakos, we will have to be in a strong state mentally. This is the most essential element for us to be as we should be in the finals”.

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