Interview with Stoiximan GBL’s Podcast, “Man to Man Powered by Stoiximan”, granted Vangelis Mantzaris!
The experienced guard, who is preparing to return to the country’s top category with Mykonos, talking about his career, his motives, his many years of presence at Olympiacos, the interest of Panathinaikos, and the experiences he gained from his presence.
In detail what he said:
For the agreement and stay in Mykonos: “Last year it was to continue in Italy, but I wanted to stay close to my daughter. I looked for teams in Greek A2. Mykonos prepared in Peristeri, I talked to the coach Ziago and I just went to workout. I liked the climate, I closed and I don’t regret it for a moment … The category was competitive, but without high level and opportunities in the young Greek protagonists. “.
For the level of Stoiximan GBL and the first presence of Mykonos: “Olympiacos and Panathinaikos will go to the final, AEK is taking steps forward and we are happy for the new investor on Mars. For relegation, there is no weak team and this is the misfortune of Mykonos. But we got strangers who know Greek reality ».
For his new motives and character: “I was never athletic or talented, but that I was playing from a young age it brought me to the level I played. If you don’t have a match picture, how will you move on? The motivation is that I now enjoy basketball more than old and I enjoy the game and I don’t see it completely professionally … but I think I will never grow up! In Mykonos I was hanging out with the kids. As a father I am more responsible, but I do everything in my 17s! “.
For the basic position in his debut with Olympiacos in the Euroleague: “Coach Ivkovic didn’t know me. If Olympiacos did not throw the budget in 2011 neither I nor Sloukas would … go out! Only Papanikolaou would play, Sloukas was loan on Mars and Dunda didn’t want him! We went ahead, grabbed the opportunity, Spanoulis helped us and Ivkovic did not chew on the parquet. Spanoulis was at first a little … difficult with this change, with the little ones and Hines from Germany, but he was a professional and we were justified. “.
What would he like to forget about 8 years at Olympiacos: “My injury, though the Angelopoulos supported me, but also the season with coach David Blatt, which was difficult on and off the field. If I knew Bardzokas would come back, I wouldn’t leave ».
For … “boxer” Dusan Ivkovic: “It was a meter of psychology, how it can” load “and relax a team. He knew when to “get bored” and he didn’t touch anything. We do not chew by names, it was not the hamblance and it was an old school. “Dunda” was not a pseudo -gone … Before the 5th final of 2012 with Panathinaikos he got out of the hotel and when someone from a car told him “tonight he has … ‘defeat’,” he pulled a “bouquet” out of the window! “.
For his relationship with Vassilis Spanoulis and George Printzis: “I was the one who wanted Basil. I lowered the ball not all the weight on him, branded the good player and resting him in the defense and put the spot ups. I owe him a lot and without him we wouldn’t have played basketball! With George I was eight years of room, it’s like my brother and it’s like me, a kid in the heart and the mind and we fit in. “.
For the times when there has been a “flirting” with Panathinaikos: “In 2011 they had Vergini as a young man, Olympiacos appeared and Mr. Angelopoulos took me personally. In 2014, when Panathinaikos’ proposal to Olympiacos, I didn’t discuss it and this was done in ’17, which I spoke to Mr. Giannakopoulos once, but I told him that if the Angelopoulos gave me the money I wanted, I wouldn’t leave ».
For the first experience abroad, in Kazan: “It was … drama, even though I was motivated, because no matter how the Coach Prifti told me, I went to the wrong environment. I had told him that I was not a guy who makes the ball … a rosary and he scored 20 points and at Christmas I found my health in Prometheus. The worst choice in my life was that I left Prometheus, who was a paradise with Coach Yatra, to go back to Peristeri! “.
For other terms abroad: “I restarted in Poland and … I was depressed, until Hapoel Eilat, who has summer all year, eaten in five-star hotels and had me in the” hopes! “… There I would go again, as in Venezuela, if I didn’t have my daughter. Give me sun and sea, as in Rosetto and I left! “.
For his course, injustices, evils and pressure: “I learned growing up not to hold evils. The tips I give to young children is that it has no substance to quarrel, like me with Coldebella in Kazan, and when it was to go to Italy, he “burned” me and said the worst! The pressure wants management, because Olympiacos has the most pressure in Europe ».
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
