Ioannis Papapetrou denounces harsh playing conditions, officiating after PAO's loss to Larissa / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens were held scoreless in the last five minutes of Game 4 for the Greek League semifinals against hosts Larissa BC and the two teams will square off in a decisive Game 5 next Wednesday.

2-pointers this season

54%19,4Points made:19,4Accuracy:53,7%Place in standings:10Record max:25Record min:11Most made 2FGs:Georgios PapagiannisTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The heat in the gym, which was again packed with home fans (4,000), was unbearable for all participants, including members of the coaching staffs. The installation, which will host Greece's contest with Great Britain for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers on June 30, was deprived of air-conditioning. As a result, the temperature went as high as 35 degrees.

As if that wasn't enough, Panathinaikos' captain Ioannis Papapetrou had a bad day. After hitting a three pointer that made it 29-30 in the first half, the Greek forward was injured when a banner fell on his leg. Nemanja Nedovic and Leonidas Kaselakis were the ones who shook the banner, causing its fall, while celebrating their teammate's basket from the bench.

Papapetrou went to the locker room, got stitched up, and returned to finish the game.

However, with less than seven minutes remaining and PAO leading 61-57, the 28-year-old was called his fifth foul. It was a dubious decision that made Papapetrou furious and cost the Greens' bench a technical foul.

From that point on, the reigning Greek champs scored only one point in the remaining minutes, thus succumbing without any further resistance to the team from Thessaly (74-62).

At the end of the game, Panathinaikos head coach Giorgos Vovoras was really angry and had to be contained while screaming at the referees.

"Conditions were horrible for both teams", Vovoras said in the postgame presser, referring to the heat. "No basketball game can be played under those circumstances".

Ioannis Papapetrou

MIN:29.07PTS:11.96 (48.18%)REB:3.17As:2.48ST:0.43BL:0.09TO:1.52GM:23ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

However, Papapetrou was more acute in his comments on his injury, as well as on the conditions that prevailed in the Neapolis stadium.

"There is no need to talk about the game," he made cleat at the beginning.

"First, I want to say congratulations to all guys at Larissa, coach (Fotis) Takianos and the whole team. They're making an incredible effort and are playing nice basketball."

Then, Papapetrou referred to the conditions under which the game took place.

"I have been a professional for 9 years, and I have played for the top two teams in Greece (editor's note: Olympiacos and Panathinaikos). Now, I get to play in a gym where a banner comes off and I need to get stitches on my knee at half-time.

That's because there's no safety measures and the banner is supported by sandbags," Papapetrou went on to say.

"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."

Panathinaikos' captain 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!," Papapetrou repeated.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.