Vougioukas: “We enter the Cup as underdogs, we will try to do our best”

THE Panionioshaving won the ticket from the Unicef ​​Trophy, begins his duties in Final-8 of the Cup with a fight against Prometheus of Patras (16/02, 21:00), aiming to qualify for the semi-finals.

One of the most experienced players of the “blue and red”, o Ian Vougioukastalked about the team’s goals and also about the fact that it starts as outsider in the tournament, while it was also mentioned in Women’s Basketball.

In detail what he said:

-Do you think that the Final 8 after last year’s first experience is an institution that helps basketball?

“It’s definitely very interesting for basketball fans to gather in one place and play to claim the Cup. The format that allows the team that wins the UNICEF TROPHY gives a chance to some clubs that would never have had it to participate in the Final 8. Of course, it is difficult for a team to need three wins in four days to win the Cup, but the “big” have a deep roster to cope”.

-What are the points you need to pay attention to in order to progress to the semi-finals of the competition?

“It is certainly one of the first matches of the season that we enter as outsiders. We will try to play our game, we know we will have a difficult task. Of course we are happy with our presence and participation and we will try to do our best to claim what belongs to us”.

-What is your team’s goal in the Final 8?

“Let’s put on a good performance, let there be no injuries as we have a difficult continuation in the league and of course let some kids who haven’t played in the Basket League have the experience against well-known teams and athletes. It is also very important that Panionios participates for the second consecutive year in the Final 8”.

-How important do you think is the fact that it is organized this year alongside the Final 8 of the Men’s Cup and the final of the Women’s Cup?

“Women’s basketball is constantly progressing in Greece and it is important in terms of its promotion that the final of the Cup will take place at the same time as the men’s final. Certainly, such moves contribute to the progress and development of women’s basketball in Greece, much more so than when our country organizes Eurobasket 2025.”