Liolios on COSMOTE TV: “25 years record of registrations, I told Giannis Antetokounmpo after the ban”

On Tuesday evening (14/2) Vangelis Liolios spoke on COSMOTE TV’s Pick N Roll show and Vassilis Skoundis about the course of the Greek national team in the EuroBasket 2022. The President of the EEC also referred to the alleged friendly match of our representative group with Team USA before the World Cup 2023, but also on the relationship with the Milwaukee Bucks for the eyes of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

For his progress so far and for the national team: “The image for the cover would be the national team. It was successful because it united the Greeks, gave a vision, gave hope and showed the future. It’s our team. I have more responsibility, it’s not about sadness or joy, it’s about responsibility. The national team is above all of us. There is the slogan for the reunification of Greek basketball. We were half a game away from qualifying, which gives us strength to move forward.

Our course was instructive, I saw the mistakes I made. Management is responsible for any failure. I was responsible for EuroBasket. We had the best coach and the best players, so I didn’t do something right. It’s true what I say. The Greeks would not fit into the foursome on the field.

It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, it matters how many times you get up. We have record enrollments in the last 25 years, it’s important to properly welcome these children who are the future as EWG, as unions and as unions so we move from quantity to quality. We have to look ahead, to the future, who will endure progress. Some are left behind“.

About what he said to Giannis after being expelled from Germany: “I told him that people traveled for them. That he believed in her. Success is reflected in a medal, but love of the world reigns supreme. He is always close to the team, I’ll say it again, he loves the national team and Greece very much, it’s impossible that he doesn’t want to play in the big competitions“.

For the rumored friendly match with the US national team in Abu Dhabi: “I believe it is confirmed. I will be traveling to the US at the end of the month and we will meet. I think our role is to always be close to the people who support the national team. To the players, to the teams, we are preparing to get the best result“.

For statements by Dimitris Itoudis regarding his relationship with the Milwaukee Bucks: “It’s a very big organization supporting a big star. We have a great partnership with them, they also want the best for their player. There is always cooperation, there is always mutual respect“.

For the possibility of the Milwaukee Bucks playing in Greece: “It doesn’t happen immediately, it takes a lot of preparation, there has to be a will from the NBA and the team. It’s not easy, maybe someday this can be done“.

For the development program: “This is the priority on the agenda. Now we have a good group of men and women, but we also need to prepare for what is to come. Steps are being taken, we have moved up the rankings, but on the other hand, I see that the countries that have good development programs are widening the gap with us. If we don’t make much more aggressive moves, the difference becomes even bigger. We don’t want to copy any model, we want to orientate ourselves towards the Spaniards, French, Germans, maybe even Serbs. We all need to change at the level of mentality. Parents go mad, managers get killed. Teams must want to invest in these ages“.

For the upcoming Final Eight: “We are taking all measures to ensure the safety of fans. But that’s a bet for all teams. We organize, we take initiatives. It’s inconceivable for me to say that we will never celebrate because we have some problems. We must take risks, but we must all take responsibility. Last year there was a Final Four, this year we will see how it goes and next year we will continue and go to other regions to have matured as a society and show culture“.

For punishing Dinos Mitoglou: “I don’t want to go into that part. We were not pleased, we were saddened as Greeks by the extent of this punishment. All legal procedures are in place and we fully respect the decisions of the relevant authorities“.

About his relationship with Dimitris Giannakopoulos: “An organization is very different from people. I too will be in the EEC for a period of time. Organisms are not eternally linked to persons. We have to separate them. I don’t mind if someone is with me personally. I have a project, the responsibilities I’ve been given come from hundreds of unions that I’m constantly communicating with and understanding how things are going. No, we have no progress. I have nothing special with the owners. My door is always open to everyone. And AEK is a big organization but they have to respect procedures“.