Lykogiannis: “Panionios will not go to the Basket League like… a poor relative”

On EOK WebRadio and on the “Live Replay” show, he was hosted by Aris Lykogianniswhich led him Panionio in the Stoiximan Basket League.

The coach of the Nea Smyrni team referred to the successful season, his stay and the step up in the new year, in which, as he pointed out, Panionios will not be the… poor relative.

In detail, what Aris Lykogiannis mentioned:

For the past season: “The job is done, that’s what’s left in the end. A lot happened last season, we had a lot of pressure, the “must” resounded, Panionios had the title of favorite from the beginning. During the year and despite the difficulties, the setbacks and the many injuries that forced us to have a rather big maintenance problem towards the end, I think there was a very good management, especially by the children, of the pressure that existed . The regular season ended without any doubts as to who was the best team and I think that we are absolutely rightly in the Basket League.”

On whether he ever lost faith this season: “Faith was never lost, at any point. The Elite League championship has been upgraded, in the last 2-3 years the Federation has made a great effort in this direction. It has become quite competitive. Apart from the presence of some foreign players who are raising the level, we saw some new faces at a good age who showed some interesting elements. There was a lot of competition, it was not an easy championship and especially towards the end of it the teams were very motivated to achieve their goal. There were no easy matches. Faith, however, was not lost at any moment. The team was firmly in 1st place, never lost that advantage and we were confident that one way or another we would make it.”

To renew it with the team: “It was an appointment that was of long duration, I think expected. There was a review of the past year, things that have to do with the competition and the organization were discussed, with many things that happened during the year and of course things that the team should focus on and work hard on in the summer were discussed so that show up as ready as possible to the Basket League. It is a top level category, with historic teams, with teams that have strong wallets, with teams that have a lot of people, a competitive league. Panionios does not want to enter this process as a “poor relative”, he wants to enter as an equal member who will claim as much as he can. For this to happen, it should be organized as best as possible at all levels, competitive and non-competitive.”

For the step in the Basketball League: “It’s really difficult. The fact that we know that this step is difficult, is the first step that someone must take to get to where they want to be. It is a competitive league that requires patience. Correct steps must be taken. In the summer to be able to organize at all levels, to make the right choices with executives, with people who will help the staff, with players, to build a team that will be able to function, so that the team has a tough and competitive face and above all to gain respect based on performance and the basketball he will play.”

For the Basketball League roster: “At the moment the regulation of 6+1 foreigners applies. In the first phase, Panionios will go with the logic of 6 foreigners, like all the teams in the category. Beyond that, there are two guys who are bound by a contract from the previous year, there are thoughts and there have been discussions with 1-2 guys who were on the team’s roster and apart from them we will try to find 2-3 more guys who will can help us. Kids with quality, with experience, who will have played in the division. Certainly foreigners determine the course of a team, but the Greek element plays its own role in things that may not be seen so much on the court. Chemistry is “A” and “O” and this can be seen from the lowest to the highest level”.

For the team’s court in the Basket League: “First of all, Panionios is obliged to find a headquarters in which he will be housed and if possible to make an agreement that will last more than one year. This season we suffered a lot, the team trained in two stadiums, two days at “Andreas Varikas” and three at “Krisos Persis”. This created problems, because the training hours were not right, we had issues and problems which are completely normal when you don’t have a fixed space of your own. This is another reason why the success of the climb is so important. Beyond that, there are some pitches available. I believe that the appropriate contacts will be made and the administration will decide on the seat that will host us for the next year. As a matter of fact, he will not be in Nea Smyrni”.

For people to follow the team outside Nea Smyrna: “That’s what it’s all about right now. It is not a choice of the team to leave Nea Smyrni, it is a need that has presented itself, because Panionios is currently waiting for the procedures that will be done on the field and how this project will proceed. I think that for at least the next 2 years it is a given that there will be no stadium in “Artakis”.