Greek league team hires same coach for the third time this season / News - Basketnews.com

As Ionikos Nikaia are struggling to stay in Greece's top flight, some rather unusual events have taken place this season, culminating in their head coach's return.

Credit: Ionikos BC Credit Ionikos BC

If you're craving some drama in the Greek league this season, the country's two EuroLeague clubs might not be able to deliver. So, the answer is simple: look no further than Ionikos.

The historic team that returned to the top division in 2019, following a 32-year period of decadence, is closer to being relegated than ever before. Ionikos are playing their biggest game in years this Saturday, April 9, facing Karditsa on the road. Since both teams are tied at 4-17, the winner takes it all and the loser is headed straight to the second division.

However, the Nikaia-based club has been tormented by several internal and external issues throughout the season. First and foremost comes the coaching issue.

This Monday, head coach Angelos Tsikliras was re-hired. The Greek tactician, who was first appointed Ionikos' coach on March 28, 2022, is preparing for his third stint in the same season.

Tsikliras was released on October 12, 2022, after handing in his resignation for health reasons.

"The management, appreciating his contribution, but mainly because the human factor is above expediency and results, suggested that coach Tsikliras take his time until he successfully overcomes the problem he faces," the club's announcement read.

Credit Ionikos BC

Tsikliras was replaced by Kostas Mexas, current assistant to Christos Serelis at Panathinaikos, and Giannis Livanos, who had previously served as an assistant coach at Ionikos. But on February 1, he was re-hired, after overcoming his health problems.

"We had said from the beginning that the door of the team was always open for him," the club reminded everyone.

Less than seven weeks later, Ionikos were again in search of a coach following the resignation of Angelos Tsikliras and his assistant, Giannis Livanos.

Apart from the two play-callers, the club also saw technical director Vangelis Alexandris, general director Thanasis Dounis, and president Giannis Kyriakopoulos leave the club.

In his farewell statement, Kyriakopoulos explained that he was forced to resign due to the inability to secure the funds necessary for the club's survival. As the main reason, the team's main sponsor cited an "unjustified non-payment" of an amount that corresponds to the taxation of betting profits in Greece and which the government distributes to professional and amateur sports entities (federations, leagues, etc.).

The Hellenic Basketball Federationhas opened up an investigation into possible match-fixingwith regard to Ionikos' game in Rhodes against Kolossos, where the hosts prevailed by 89-48. Most betting companies had the game handicap at -10.5 for the home team before the match. However, as the start time got closer, the handicap rose to -28.5 and the match was withdrawn from the vast majority of bookmakers.

According to BN Sports, the Federation had been following the case all along, gathering the necessary information about the game. On Jan. 16, the file containing some details was sent to the General Secretariat of Sports as well as to the competent Prosecutor's Office, asking for full clarification.

Kyriakopoulos argued that because of the ongoing investigation, the government didn't allocate the funds, which amount to about 45% of the team's total annual budget. According to estimations, Ionikos and Kolossos might have to miss out on a boost worth 370,000 euros.

Interestingly, one of the players that were absent from that game in Rhodes also decided to leave. Loukas Mavrokefalidis, the team's captain and most notable player, made his decision on unspecified grounds. Nevertheless, the 39-year-old center appeared firm talking to gazzetta.gr.

"I'm not going to come back. For that to happen, something unreal must happen," he commented.

However, over the last few days, some more interesting developments have taken place. Ionikos, being severely undermanned following the departure of many core players like former Olympiacos guard Vangelis Mantzaris, gave a contract to Steven Burtt Jr.

The American scorer, 39, who had played for the team in 2019-20, announced his retirement last summer. Burtt didn't play in the game against Lavrio, where his team lost 82-90, but will probably have another chance at Karditsa next Saturday.

As if all that wasn't enough, Ionikos announced that discussions are taking place for the reintegration of Mavrokefalidis, with a view to "settling the reasons that have kept him out in the last games and in order for him to return for the last two."

However, the player stands tall on his decision.

"The season is over for me, unfortunately rather prematurely," the former EuroLeague big man clarified via Instagram.

"There isn't, nor has it ever been, a chance for me to come back, regardless of what I'm hearing or of what some people want to make public."

It remains to be seen whether both Burtt andMavrokefalidis have already played their career-last games.

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