Enraged Giannakopoulos confronts Greek Federation's president about officiating in PAO's games / News - Basketnews.com

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For the first time after distancing himself from Panathinaikos OPAP Athens, the club's owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos decided to make his presence visible.

Free throws this season

80%12,7Points made:12,7Accuracy:80,3%Place in standings:8Record max:25Record min:4Most made FTs:Daryl MaconTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Less than 24 hours after the Greens lost to Larissa in Game 4 for the Greek playoff semi-finals, which resulted in a Game 5 being held next Wednesday, Giannakopoulos paid an unannounced visit to the Greek Basketball Federation's headquarters.

According to gazetta.gr, his intention was to talk with the federation's president, Vangelis Liolios.

The two had a brief discussion (per sdna.gr, it lasted less than two minutes), in which Giannakopoulos complained about the way game officials have been treating the Greens this season.

According SDNA, PAO's owner clarified to Liolios that "until Panathinaikos is sold, I will not tolerate you stealing from us".

Per the same report, the Greek businessman addressed the former Promitheas Patras owner rather mildly.

In June 2020, Giannakopoulos announced that the club is for sale and entrusted the team to some of his associates in order for it to operate on the basis of income and expenses.

On Sunday night, Larissa beat Panathinaikos 74-62 and tied the Greek playoff series at 2-2. Okaro White, Giorgos Papagiannis and Ioannis Papapetrou were fouled out during the contest, while the team received three technical fouls at different points.

Coach Giorgos Vovoras was furious at the end of the game, and had to be contained while screaming at the referees.

The air-conditioning system in Larisa's arena was broken and both teams had to play with a temperature of around 36 degrees.

"Conditions were horrible for both teams", Vovoras said after the game. "No basketball game can be played under those circumstances".

Captain Ioannis Papapetrou, who had an operation Monday and is listed as questionable for Game 5, had also some things to complain about.

"The temperature in the gym was 50 degrees; players are unable to play, and we are still talking about Greek basketball. Us losing or winning is the last thing I care about. I am 28 years old, I have played 9 years in this country on both sides.

(Basketball) is supposed to be the top sport in Greece and we see these things happening," the Greens' forward told Greek public television ERT.

Papapetrou also wanted to address the officiating, but in the end he limited himself to a brief statement.

"There is one more thing: players who are exposed on the court cannot utter their opinion on the game, but everyone saw what happened. I don't want to talk about that, because unfortunately, I will be punished.

I'm ashamed to be a part of this thing. I'm ashamed, it's a shame!," he repeated.

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