Vovoras: “Panathinaikos played 70 minutes of excellent basketball in the Final Four – The title is absolutely fair”

His own intervention on the EEC Web Radio was made by George Vovoras. His former coach Panathinaikou and now her Neptune was asked to comment on the triumph of the “greens” in its Final Four Euroleaguewhile he referred to Ergin Ataman, Kostas Slukas, Kendrick Nunn and Marius Grigonis.

In detail what he said:

For Panathinaikos winning the Euroleague: “No one can guarantee success regardless of investment and budget. I think the “key” to the success was that he brought two people who have the “know how” for the Final-4 and on the bench in all four lines. He got a coach who has won 3 of the last 4 Europeans and he got a player who in all the teams he has been to knows how to lead a team to the Final-4. This was perhaps the most important thing for Panathinaikos to gain self-confidence even in difficult days. I think the key game is the victory in Madrid against Real, it is the match that changed the whole thinking of Panathinaikos. There they started and believed that they can do something very good team. In the Final-4, Panathinaikos played excellent basketball for 70 of the 80 minutes and won the title absolutely justly.”

For the performance of Panathinaikos in the final against Real: “In the 1st period, even though Panathinaikos had conceded too many points, they stayed close because they have the talent to attack. This shows the quality of the roster. Panathinaikos has something that highlights Real’s weaknesses. Real always take chances with shots, because they have Tavares inside and Panathinaikos have too many players who threaten after dribbling. I think Mitoglou was the “key”, where he went to “5” and the team was ready to create these conditions. Mentally, Panathinaikos was ready and this is shown by the energy and physicality. All players who step on the court know their role and are ready to give 100%. This is purely the coach’s work to his credit. That is why he is considered one of the best and the titles show it by themselves. What we also have to give credit to Ataman is that he is a fair coach and when the players see that there is fairness, no matter who you are, and when they know that if they do something good they will stay on the pitch, that is another great quality and it shows his quality like a coach”.

For Marius Grigonis: “Grigonis was a very important part of the team. Another thing that coach Ataman does is that he “builds” the team based on his philosophy. Grigonis is a perfect fit to be the 3rd guard who can create and score. It’s definitely the team that made Grigonis play at the level he can play and that’s something that’s clearly a credit to the whole organization and the coach.”

About Kendrick Nunn: “Surely Nan is the player who changed the flow, who gave the extra “spark” that Panathinaikos needed. He came in a difficult “moon” for the team and the fact that he adapted so quickly is definitely due to his personality. For a team to manage through a whole season to get through the difficult nights, it goes to say that there are healthy and very good locker rooms. For a player with no experience from Europe to come to such a big organization, with so much pressure, and be able to become part of the organization, it’s all factors. The coach, his teammates, but also himself.”

On his impressions of Lithuania and Neptune: “I went in the middle of the season at a difficult time for the team. We had 8 consecutive wins, for the first time in the history of the team, we beat all the top teams. In the play-offs we played Wolves, we fought, we lost 2-1 and it was the end of the season for us. We are trying to “build” something new starting next season. I am very happy with the level of the championship. In Lithuania they love sports, in Greece we love more… victory. Their culture is that they like sports, they like the team to compete and regardless of the result they will be by their side. It’s really a very important experience for me too to be in this league. I am very happy. I hope that next season we will be able to take our step in Europe and in the Lithuanian league.”