Olympiacos presidents stress team's success despite low budget, praise Fenerbahce / News - Basketnews.com

Olympiacos' presidents and owners Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos talked to the media after the Reds made their second straight Final Four. Both agreed on what the priority should be ahead of next season, while one of them explained why he thinks Olympiacos is a unique case in world sports.

Credit: Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Olympiacos Piraeus qualified for the Final Four for the second consecutive season, overcoming Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

Player of the Game EFF 27 Kostas Sloukas Points 22 Accuracy 7-11 Rebounds 3 Assists 6

After Belgrade, the Reds prepare their suitcases for Kaunas, where EuroLeague's main event will be held from 19 through 21 May.

Even though the atmosphere at the Peace and Friendship Stadium was celebratory, the reactions from fans down to the last player on the hosts' roster were much calmer compared to last season and Game 5 against AS Monaco.

One of the things that remained the same was how fans greeted Olympiacos' owners and presidents, Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, after the two brothers had finished their 10-minute media availability session.

As soon as they were done with their statements, they received a wave of chants from the crowd, which was listening to every word spoken by them.

The Greek club's heads stressed that the goal for Olympiacos is to go all the way, while they explained that the Reds' last two seasons had been one of the most imposing any EuroLeague team has ever had.

"It's particularly important that for the second year in a row, we will contend for the title," Panagiotis Angelopoulos said.

"We feel pride and joy. The end of the line is the final game. The team has continuity, this is our 8th Final Four. We believe in the team, the core should stay the same, and we should keep belonging to Europe's elite," the 50-year-old businessman continued.

The two brothers touched on the team's budget and the difference between Olympiacos and most teams that usually make the Final Four.

"The differences in the budgets exist. Fener weren't supposed to finish 8th; that's why we had a clash of giants. Fener has some special weight, they have won titles, we lost in the 2017 final at their home court, but today we beat them at ours," Panagiotis pointed out and clarified that the Final Four doesn't scare the team.

3-pointers this season

37%9,7Points made:9,7Accuracy:37,1%Place in standings:5Record max:19Record min:3Most made 3FGs:Aleksandr VezenkovTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"Last year, we lost in the last second [editor's note: to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Vasilije Micic], so we are only waiting to learn our opponent in the semi-final. We're having one of the most imposing two-season periods in EuroLeague history," Olympiacos' co-president maintains.

"We are going to win the semi-final. Nine of our current 12 players were here last year. Isaiah Canaan was left out of the Greek league roster, but he gives everything."

Giorgos Angelopoulos recalled that the last time Olympiacos made two back-to-back Final Fours was in 2012 and 2013 when they won both trophies.

"That was 10 years ago, something that speaks of how important and difficult our feat has been," the 48-year-old executive said.

"Last year, we came close but didn't make it. We hope this year we can go all the way. The most important thing is to have consistency over time. Olympiacos is a global phenomenon. The team has a budget two and three times lower than the other teams -- and it still succeeds.

We will do everything in our power to keep the team intact. We have great respect for Fener, this has been the most competitive EuroLeague in recent years," Giorgos Angelopoulos mentioned.

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