Papanikolaou: “Greek basketball cares for the sake of the National”!

THE Costas Papanikolaou combined his presence in the windows with 2/2 victories of the National against Turkey, but also as a leader in yesterday’s match of Istanbul (67-76). The forward of Olympiacos spoke with satisfaction not only about the results, but also about the atmosphere of solidarity that exists in Greek basketball now. His interview on the EEC website in detail:

-Closes with the absolute of success a “window” that for you and some of your teammates were all peculiarities. Now that it’s over, take a look back, how did you experience those days?

“First of all, we must not and do not forget that many children are children of the National teams, that is, we have been given the opportunity to come to the surface through the National teams and their successes. From there on it was definitely something new especially for us Olympiacos kids which was the first time we participated in a window in the middle of Euroleague obligations, it was very important, very beautiful and I think it is the biggest achievement, ok it is definitely meant after the victories that are the main thing, the fact that Greek basketball seems to care again. It seems that the National team and its goals come above any collective achievement, as it should be all these years and that is very important “.

-The result counts and that says two victories over our theoretically strongest opponent in the group. Do you think the first goal was achieved on the way to the World?

“Based on the results, no matter how many matches are pending in the group and two more matches for us, staying out of this group is very difficult, I do not know if with all the matches completed it was already secured. Of course, the work does not stop here and the continuation is great since you take every result with you to the next group, so every defeat, even if you qualify, can cost after the big goal is played, the qualification for the World Cup. The group that we cross has very good teams, so it will be a pity this effort that brought the two victories with our main opponent for the first and especially the away one, to carry another defeat having passed through here. We will have to show great concentration in the next and last window of this group, in order to go with the smallest possible loss to the next phase “.

-In the first match victory with two of your own shots, in the second for the first time captain in Men and a great away success, although he has lived a lot in the National, a “window” has already acquired a prominent place in your memories?

“Certainly, the National team has said it, I say it again and whenever I have the opportunity I will say it again, for me it is a very big chapter in my career. So to be able to be even a leader in a match in the Men’s National Team, who have gone through so many giants, so many names with so many successes and two of the guys are here with us and in the mission from another post now “Nikos Zisis and the Municipality of Dikoudis are a great blessing for me and I am really very happy that this was accompanied by a very important victory”.

-With the qualification from this phase now almost certain and with the summer full of obligations, does the mind leave at all in the big date that is coming, in Eurobasket or everything in its time?

“It simply came to our notice then. It will be a pity as I said before we lose our minds in the next window and carry another defeat, I repeat that both Belarus and Great Britain have proved that they are predictable, defeating one of us and one of the Turks, will not be easy games. It will be a pity for our effort not to take advantage of our headquarters once again, that we want to have the same tremendous support that we had in Liossia and go to the next phase with what matters, that is, the smallest possible loss and there we must focus on “.

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