Olympiacos' owners weigh in on club's historic season, Milutinov case / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Olympiacos BC Credit Olympiacos BC

Olympiacos Piraeus returned to the top of the Greek league, winning a double (domestic Cup and championship) after 25 years, which was their fourth overall.

Free throws this season

76%14,1Points made:14,1Accuracy:75,8%Place in standings:2Record max:27Record min:5Most made FTs:Konstantinos SloukasTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The last time the Reds won at least two titles in the same season was in 1996-97 when they snatched the triple crown. Considering the Greek team's excellent EuroLeague run that came to an end in the Final Four semifinal against eventual champs Anadolu Efes, the 2021-22 campaign qualifies as one of the most successful in the club's history.

As has always been the case, Olympiacos' owners and presidents Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos attended the press conference following the Reds' triumph (93-74) over Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in Game 3 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.

Panagiotis Angelopoulos spoke about a historic season, referring to the seven straight victories against the Greens, starting from last December's EuroLeague regular season contest, and stressed that Olympiacos has what it takes to be a perennial Final Four and domestic title contender.

He also praised retired team captain Giorgos Printezis for his trajectory with the club.

"This is a historic season. We returned to the Greek League, we won both titles. We also beat Panathinaikos seven times in six months. Players and coaching staff reacted the right way after defeats. It's not easy. We've gone from 12th in the EuroLeague last year, to finishing second this year."

Panagiotis Angelopoulos also spoke about Printezis and what's special about the 37-year-old forward who decided to end his career this summer.

"For me, Printezis, apart from being an excellent person, is a man with whom we've had some pleasant conversations. Not in the sense that he was telling us things we wanted to hear. He was a crazy guy - in a good way- that we're all going to miss.

Nikola Milutinov

MIN:19.18PTS:7.69 (61.98%)REB:6.5As:0.88ST:0.38BL:0.44TO:0.63GM:16ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

He worked endless hours. He set an example with his work ethic. We are lucky we got to experience all this."

Credit Olympiacos BC

Panagiotis' brother, Giorgos, emphasized that the team's successful season is a vindication of the management's decision to leave the Greek league in 2019 as a sign of protest against the Greek federation's policy.

"I don't know if the coach thought we would ever experience such moments together again when we had a meeting for his return. The conditions were difficult back then. I think that's why we agreed to continue together," Olympiacos' co-owner said.

"It is a vindication of the historic decision we made with Panagiotis back then (in 2019). That decision could have torn Olympiakos apart. We stood next to the team in very difficult situations. We carried all the weight on us.

It was a decision that everyone saw and commented on. In the beginning, they said that we weren't going to play in the EuroLeague, but we did. Then they said that we couldn't play only in the EuroLeague. Each time there were obstacles that we had to overcome.

There has been a great psychological and financial cost to these decisions and choices. We were right. Things could have gone differently," Giorgos Angelopoulos continued.

"The bottom line was that we left something we believed, like many people, that wasn't as it should be. We did not please or threaten anyone. We made a bold decision which came at a price. As you all saw, this year has exceeded the limits and expectations of us all."

The Greek businessman was also asked about Nikola Milutinov, who attended the game in Piraeus, and the scenarios that have linked the Serbian center with Olympiacos.

"No, at the moment, there are no thoughts [about it]," Giorgos Angelopoulos said. Since Giorgos Bartzokas' contract expires in a few days, the club's priority is to agree with the 2022 EuroLeague Coach of the Year on a new one.

"The first move is to talk to the coach and agree on our collaboration and planning for the next day," Angelopoulos uttered.

"It does not make sense to enter into speculations. Nikola has a contract with CSKA. At this point, the team deserves to experience all the celebrations and the joy. Everything will be taken care of when the time comes, let's be patient," he concluded.

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