Jonas Maciulis: 'AEK owner thought that players are slaves' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

After winning a BAT case against his former team AEK Athens, Jonas Maciulis shared more details about the chaos in the club.

3-pointers this season

37%10,0Points made:10,0Accuracy:36,6%Place in standings:11Record max:14Record min:4Most made 3FGs:Janis StrelnieksTeamBCLStatisticsSchedule

Speaking to gazzetta.gr, Maciulis admitted that he didn't want to go to court against his former team, but he had no other choice.

"I didn't want to against AEK like a couple of players did last year, but the club itself went to sports judge, who decided that AEK don't owe me money," Maciulis said. "Then I decided to go to BAT, and the situation became clear. I cannot understand the initial decision, they must do a better job."

The 37-year-old former player also shared an incomprehensible behavior by the club when he temporarily left the team to attend his father's funeral.

"I wanted to help AEK sign new players, but I can't forget what happened when my father passed away. The funeral took place on Saturday, and on Sunday, they called me to tell me that they needed me to come back.

I tried to explain that I must stay with family and help them, but AEK were holding their stance," Maciulis revealed.

The Lithuanian also told the story of the team's owner Makis Angelopoulos' reaction when the players decided to boycott the games.

"After we decided not to play in the semifinal last season, the club issued us a fine of 4 months' salary. Angelopoulos thought we were slaves, and when he came to the locker room, we started shouting at him, calling him a liar. But he couldn't believe it, he was in genuine shock," Maciulis revealed.

According to BasketNews sources, BAT obligated AEK to pay Maciulis seven monthly salaries and bonuses from 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, which were unpaid to the Lithuanian.

AEK also were obligated to cover unpaid fees for his agent Marius Rutkauskas.

Also, the Greek club will have to pay legal fees and expenses of their arbitration costs.

Currently, AEK have 18 FIBA bans in place. They're banned from the registration of new players.

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