Bartzokas: 'The Cup tournament in Greece is either a wedding or a funeral' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Hellenic Basketball Federation Credit Hellenic Basketball Federation

Olympiacos Piraeus are preparing for their Greek Cup semifinal game against AEK Athens, which is set for Friday evening at 19:00 CET.

Free throws this season

71%14,8Points made:14,8Accuracy:71,2%Place in standings:12Record max:25Record min:8Most made FTs:Nikos PappasTeamBCLStatisticsSchedule

Three hours earlier, Panathinaikos OPAP Athens will be taking on Promitheas Patras in the first semifinal of the revamped Final Four format, to be held in Heraklion, Crete from 18 to 20 February.

In the inaugural press conference, Olympiacos head coach Giorgos Bartzokas touched on many issues. He started off by expressing his satisfaction with the fact the Greek Cup will be once again be held in a Final Four format.

"I would like to welcome the return of the Final 4 format after so many years," the experienced coach said.

"There were some incidents that took place in 2004 when it was hosted for the last time. Many of us worked abroad for years and enjoyed it, now we will see it here as well.

In Greece, such tournaments are either a wedding or a funeral, because only one celebrates and the others return to their daily lives. Those who participate in the event are going through a test to prove that our country can organize such sporting events.

The situation is difficult for Greek sport and all of us have a share of responsibility to keep all the games in a context of sportsmanship," Bartzokas stressed initially.Asked about Thomas Walkup's condition and whether the American guard will be ready to play, Bartzokas said that "he's followed a part of the team's practice. He was training individually in the previous days, but he will take some playing time in the Final 4".This season, Olympiacos are combining a solid EuroLeague trajectory with domestic success, something that can bring them their first title since 2016.

Georgios Printezis

Team:Olympiakos PiraeusPosition:PFAge:36Height:205 cmWeight:107 kgBirth place:GreeceProfileNewsStatistics

"Since I am at Olympiacos, the two domestic titles are not enough," Bartzokas clarified.

"They need to be combined with a solid presence on the European front and we are happy to be able to compete for the EuroLeague playoffs.

In order for a title to be important, Greek basketball must rise to a higher level, in terms of organization and meritocracy. Proper steps are being taken. Greece is a basketball country and we all have a great responsibility to increase the importance of domestic titles. It is important to have meritocracy, credibility and make sure titles are decided on the court".For team captain Giorgos Printezis, this could be his last chance at a Cup trophy. Turning 37 next Wednesday, Printezis has every reason to be extra motivated.

"I wish that the Final 4 becomes a Final 8 in the future and that every year there will be a gradual improvement," he uttered.

"Greeks love basketball very much and everyone should try to keep the sport pure." Asked about Olympiacos being looked upon as the favorite, the 2-time EuroLeague champ said: "The Cup doesn't put any stress on us at all. We've been working since the start of the year, we're in pretty good shape. We went through a COVID crisis, but now we feel ready for the match against AEK".

Credit Vangelis Stolis

For AEK Athens coach Stefanos Dedas, several things have gone south so far. In this vein, making it to the Final Four is no small accomplishment. AEK were Cup winners in 2018, downing Olympiacos, and again in 2020, overcoming Promitheas.

However, this time, it's two games instead of one.

"Our team has won the Cup twice in Heraklion and this is an incentive and guide to do our best in this year's Final 4," Dedas stated.

"In tomorrow's semi-final, Olympiacos are the favorite. They have more quality than us but the Cup is a tournament full of surprises and we will try to transfer the pressure to Olympiacos," he went on to say."Absences are no longer news for us. I don't know who will be available. We'll see tomorrow morning," he added.

AEK traveled to Crete with their new acquisition, Keith Langford, but without guard Nikos Pappas and forward Braian Angola, who's still battling myocarditis. "The Cup for us was an oasis in a difficult year in order to have some perspective. The win over Peristeri in the quarter-finals gave us a goal to accomplish, but that's over now," Dedas pointed out.

Credit Vangelis Stolis

The former bench boss of Hapoel Holon admitted that "it will be a surprise if we beat Olympiacos" and broke down the reasons. One of them has to do with AEK getting very close to a Greek League win three weeks ago, when Kostas Sloukas came up big and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for the Reds."Had we lost easily in the Greek League, it would be in our favor ahead of tomorrow's game," Dedas maintains.

"But with a seven-player roster, we played an amazing game. Sloukas showed his quality and won the match. Tomorrow someone else might show up. The league game can be a guide for us, but we have in mind that at any moment, any Olympiacos player can become the leader and that's what it means to be a great team."

Credit Hellenic Basketball Federation

Both Dedas and AEK captain Dimitris Mavreoeidis concur that "the Cup is an opportunity to sugarcoat what has happened so far, in a difficult year. Not to save the season, because there are still 3-4 months left in it."Mavroeidis, the only AEK player to have been present at both trophies won by the team in 2018 and 2020, called Olympiacos "a top-level EuroLeague team", but added that "history has shown that in the Cup, upsets are not that rare. In 2004 I and Printezis were kids. It took 18 years for us to play in a Final 4 again and I wish in the future it can become a Final 8"."This year's goal was to enter the new stadium, perhaps to build a roster with new guys. No Cup or league title can save AEK's season," he repeated.

Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.