Vangelis Galatsopoulos re-elected as Greek league president / News - Basketnews.com

Vangelis Galatsopoulos will keep his post as Greek Basket League president for two more years after prevailing in the election process.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Almost a year and a half since the Greek Basketball Federation turned the page, electing Vangelis Liolios as the new president following a 40-year stint by Giorgos Vassilakopoulos, the country's basketball scene hosted one more election process.

This time around, it wasn't about Greece's entire basketball structure, but rather about the improvement of the conditions regarding the league through its modernization at all levels. In a surprising turn of events, three candidates vied for for the position of the new president who will lead the league in the next two years (2023-2025).

The nominees were current president Vangelis Galatsopoulos, who ultimately extended his overall tenure to eight years (2017-2025), Peristeri BC president and CEO Giorgos Pantazopoulos, and former PAOK legend Bane Prelevic, who was a last-minute candidate.

Prelevic, 57, had served as PAOK president from 2011 through 2019. However, until recently, he hadn't shown the slightest intention of taking over the league's management.

Thus, Galatsopoulos, who had served as chairman of the governing committee of PAOK when Prelevic was the president, was re-elected as a result of the process that took place in the offices of the association, winning the trust of the majority of the 12 clubs and of the Greek federation.

The Greek businessman received eight votes, whereas Pantazopoulos got four and Prelevic just one.

"I think the time has come to lay strong and solid foundations in Greek basketball, which we have kept alive for the last six years, in the midst of the crisis, the pandemic and Olympiacos' withdrawal from the league," Galatsopoulos told gazzetta.gr before the elections.

He also promised to work closely with Prelevic for the good of the association.

"Prelevic is a huge asset for Greek basketball. If I get re-elected, my intention is to convince him to take a post in the association because our league needs his experience," he said.

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