Panagiotopoulos: “The Greek final in the Euroleague is not far away – no derby is indifferent”

Zenit’s Assistant Coach, Diamantis Panagiotopoulos‘Hosted’ at Eok webradio and made his comment on the Olympiacos-Panathinaikos of Friday (14/03) for the Euroleaguewhile also referring to his team.

In detail what he said:

On whether it is the most ‘indifferent’ derby ‘eternal’: “I can’t say there is a indifferent match between the two teams. In general, each game either creates conditions from the previous one or creates conditions for the next. Panathinaikos comes from 2 consecutive wins over Olympiacos, with one title, Olympiacos comes from 2 defeats but plays at home. Therefore, Olympiacos has a pressure for the victory, but not scoring, only for the psychology of the team. It’s the last match that actually doesn’t judge anything. Olympiacos will easily or hardly come out 1st at the Euroleague Regular Season and Panathinaikos will have the advantage of a home. If Panathinaikos loses it is not something that will cost him too much. The same goes for Olympiacos, maybe a little bit of psychology. The next games they meet, however, will be very important. Whether they go to the Final-4, with the hope of seeing a Greek final, or in the finals of the championship. “

For where he thinks the match will be judged: “As they play in the last games, both teams are motivated to go well in the final line. Panathinaikos will have to adapt Plais and Gabriel so that they are ready if they return Lesor-Yurceven and have a complete front-line. On the other hand, for Olympiacos, Wokap’s absence is very important and will try to put Lee in so that he has a five-door guard who will “pull” the team to the play-offs. Olympiacos will try to make his game, that is, a lot of pressure on the guards, trying to get out of Sluka. Papanikolaou will have a very important role in this part because of Wokap’s absence. For Panathinaikos, I believe that Plais and Mitoglou are two children who will help a bit of the life of Sloukas and Nan by “opening” the stadium. It will be a match with intensity and I think it will be a very nice game. “

Whether we are close to seeing a Greek final in the Euroleague: “I think it’s not too far away. It is a matter of how the series will end and how the intersections will go. There is nothing else. I personally believe that their course is the favorites at least in the play-offs. Final-4s are a different story, it has to do with the day, the opponent, what the absences you may have at the moment, with some of the uncertain factors. There is a great deal of this probability. It will be a wish for both Greek basketball for both organizations. I hope and those who find themselves as they should be so that it is a real celebration. “

Whether the Euroleague is missing in Zenit’s body: “I’m not discussing it. Initially, as far as the training staff is concerned, our presence in the Euroleague is certainly an incentive in itself, it is a goal we had in mind. When we came here 5 years ago it was always in our minds to grow the body and give something different. I believe we did it. On our 1st year we entered the play-offs, the next team was 3rd in the regular season with the great loss of Neptier and claimed a home advantage to go to the Final-4, but unfortunately the stoppage of Covid came. And for us and for the organization it is something we are missing and we hope to return. “

For this year’s VTB League competitiveness: “The championship was much stronger last year, as they were 8-10 teams really strong. This year they are 6-7 teams, but 4-5 are even stronger. It has been differentiated about the part of the tension. “

For the interest of the world: “All the stadiums are full. I’m not just talking about traditional groups. We always have people. Or it will be full of stadium or instead of 8 thousand it will be 6 thousand. People are interested, watching, coming, creating a nice atmosphere, but completely different from European or Greek. They have a different culture. “