Papanikolaou: “Everyone offered something to come for Niki – Congratulations to Kalaitzakis, not to me”

Following Greece’s great qualification to Israel and qualifying in the Eurobasket 2025 quarter -finals, Kostas Papanikolaou talked honestly about the appearance of the team, the role of his teammates, the defense against the Denny navesbut also for the next challenge against Lithuania.

The National Leader emphasized the importance of overall effortthe concentration and depth of the roster, giving the mark on continuity.

In detail his statements:

About how victory came despite 4/25 three -pointers: “Magic Giannis for sure, awesome work by Samondourov, Larentzakis and Kalaitzakis and Slouka’s sharpness. In general, everyone offered a small thing to come to a major victory, not easy. We didn’t play a good game but right now where we are the result it counts and that is the victory. “

For the good defense he played against Denny Avdiya: “I don’t think the defense was so good. I believe that Kalaitzakis did better on him today so the congratulations are worth it. “

For what to expect from Greece then: “Now we are fighting to go to the medal zone against a strong team. We will fight with what we have and we do not have to get to where we want. “

For what has been distinguished by the Lithuanian team so far: “It’s a great team, with big bodies. To tell you the truth, I had no picture of their games so far, nor did I see it with Latvia because we had a workout, so all I can say is that it has big bodies, tall bodies and it will take a lot of work. “

About how important they are to focus on each game individually: “It’s very important. It has helped very much that we have closed the locker rooms from anything that is happening around. We are trying to stay focused on our goal, and this is the most important and so it is a good job so far and that way we want to continue. “

For the importance of the depth of the roster in the group: “No one is left, the coach has said it many times. Everyone is important, everyone is counting, everyone will need to give something. Katsivelis, for example, played too much but today he did not fight, Samondurov had two games to play but today he was a key, key to us. This is what will help us move forward, have children who will be different protagonists in each game. “

Whether they are encouraging, who did not make their best appearance but still managed to win: “Not because no one tells you that because you didn’t have a good game now you will do 8. We have to work a little bit of the two days in front of us on this track, see why we were more passive, what we didn’t do right and prepare for the next game.”