Cancellieri: “A team with the DNA of PAOK, with passion and identity”

Determined to create a team that will have an identity and passion, he presented himself Massimo Chancellori which was presented at noon on Tuesday with all solemnity by the PAOK.

The president of KAE PAOK, Thanasis Hatzopoulos, said that hiring the Italian was an extremely easy decision for him. “It is a happy moment for KAE PAOK. I welcome Mr. Cancellieri as well as Pantelis Boutsko who knows the team well. The staff will also be staffed with Mr. Kalyvas who will help us in scouting the players while Babis Karaiskos will also remain. I want to welcome the coach. The decision was easy. As soon as we talked I realized that this is a person with a passion for what he does. He is a workaholic. We talked constantly in the intervening week and I felt that he is the right person with a different philosophy to change some things in the team’s games in order to improve the roster based on the game philosophy that he advocates».

Massimo Cancellieri in his introduction talked about the characteristics of the team he wants to create. “To work in a club like PAOK you don’t have to think about many things. Like agreeing to a team the size of PAOK and a traditional basketball country like Greece. All PAOK fans must be proud of your team and I believe that is what they will answer if asked. This matters to the team. The passion that the team exudes. There is history which is long but we also have to write the new pages. For me, this collaboration is a great challenge, a great opportunity. I am also grateful to the president who gave it to me. It is important to create a team which will have the dna of the club. With players who will bring it out and live up to what the club stands for. Passion is a word I have already used but it is the president, the fans, the club… I am also a person who is characterized by his passion. We want to create a team that will be characterized by passion and at the same time have a clear identity. We want a team that will be directly connected to the history and characteristics of the club. An image with intense passion and people on the field. To be liked by people regardless of the outcome. Those players who come should respect the club».

The Italian coach was asked if the emotions he feels today are similar to those that developed in him when he took charge of Limoges. “The cases are a little different. It was exciting to do it but I did it for a team which remains the only French team to win the Euroleague. When I was 15 years old and Greece won the European Championship, I was impressed by the passion and enthusiasm of that team. There are some countries that played a catalytic role in the development of basketball and Greece is one of them. In Greece, basketball has a tradition and plays a role in people’s lives. The funny story is that at the end of the season, talking to my wife, I told her that one of my dreams is to coach PAOK. I don’t know how this happens but I have an Italian friend who lives here, he used to come and watch PAOK games and basically has the role of an eyewitness. It gave me the feeling that PAOK is a team based on passion. So I was dreaming of this scenario, to become the coach of PAOK and suddenly I received a phone call from PAOK and the president of the team. It is incredible. I don’t know if you remember the show ‘blind date’ but something like that happened although this marriage was not blind. We started talking at twelve o’clock and at two o’clock we were making plans for the new team».

When asked about his game plan and whether he would ask Thanasis Hatzopoulos for Kevin Porter Jr.’s stay, he answered: “I really appreciate that the team staff and management are open to evaluating each situation. We discussed what happened and what needs to be done. We will go to new names, in cases of players who had no connection with the club in previous years. We will try to make a different project that will represent me as a person and a coach, that will also have an identity. A team with different characteristics and who will be young. As for Kevin Porter Jr., after a dinner and a lot of red wine I might convince him… I can jokingly say that I will also put Luka Doncic on the table. To answer seriously, we want there to be balance in the team. Dreaming is good and some things are likely to happen. But we want to build a team with an identity».

Massimo Cancellieri insisted on the element of identity. “My wish is that the three ball handlers can work together and run the team giving the tempo that the team needs. The tall three should combine athleticism and racquet protection. The three who will play on the wings should be reliable in the long shot and claim the rebound. In general, we want to create an athletic team that will generate energy and push all over the field».

Regarding PAOK’s financial limitations, he said:Obviously it’s a challenge. I want to be honest. We did not address the overall budget in the first discussion we had with the president but the president did. There are things you have to do. How much money will I get, what will be the budget and what are the goals. For me, coming here is something different. I want to enjoy the culture of PAOK. What we have is an opportunity and not a problem. We need to build a team and a new project. If you are constantly thinking about the budget, you are more likely to make mistakes. I have realized and align with the team’s passion. I don’t hide that I bet a lot on the people of PAOK who are supporters. And in Limoges there was a similar situation where people were supportive even in bad results. You don’t change teams if things don’t go well but you are there and support her».

Of course he also asked for the people’s help. “PAOK has a big base and I know that in every game we will have enough people in the stadium. You can’t promise results. Obviously these create the connection but I will insist that the team should represent the culture of the world. I’d rather have a team that fights for every possession even though they don’t play good basketball than a team that plays better basketball but doesn’t have passion».

Finally, he promised that he would try to learn Greek. “Today I will speak in English but I would like to speak Greek which is a beautiful language and I will make an effort to learn it. In France, after six-seven months I spoke French, maybe I need more time to learn Greek but I want it to get closer to your culture. I love Greek culture and civilization. I would say it fits with my own lifestyle ideas. I also studied classical philosophy».