Vassilis Spanoulis: The reactions, the instructions and the contact with the players on his official debut

Vassilis Spanoulis looked different on Monday afternoon (October 3rd) in the Peristeri gym. He stripped off his gym clothes and wore his coaching suit for the first time at an official game for his team. Those who have lived the gamer Spanoulis will certainly find the suit odd, but it has long “killed” the gamer within, he explained.

He is now nicknamed “Coach” rather than Kill Bill. Now it holds a tablet, writes and erases systems, doesn’t run them. Eyes were on him in the game against Bnei Herzeliya and not without reason, because on the Basketball Champions League papers the name of Vassilis Spanoulis was written next to the words head coach of Peristeri.

That Sportish was the only media that reported extensively on Vassilis Spanoulis’ first coaching experience at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Belgrade and Patras.

The calm before the mess and the suit

As expected, Vassilis Spanoulis was on the field several hours before the jamball. Dressed in sporty clothes, before donning his uniform, he greeted acquaintances, friends and colleagues on the way to and from his team’s dressing room.

Smiling, relaxed and in a good mood, he didn’t show any fear. Why should he? He was confident and well prepared for Peristeri’s game against the Israelis.

About fifteen minutes after his team took the floor to warm up, Spanoulis “changed” his face. The smile gave way to absolute focus and dedication to whatever he was trying to convey to his players. He crossed the floor, sat on the bench and just concentrated.

He spoke to his associates and prepared himself spiritually. He then took the Peristeri team’s souvenir, exchanged handshakes with the opposing team’s people as is customary, and returned to the bench to instruct Bilan and Denmon by drawing on his whiteboard.

The original five and first instructions

Spanoulis’ first official starting five consisted of Denmon, Bilan, Poulianiti, Davies and Kaselaki, the players he chose to start a game that turned out to be relatively easy.

Despite the fact that his side had an easy evening from the first minute of the game, standing began for Vassilis Spanoulis, who was on the bench for about a minute in a 40-minute game. For so long he could not stand up and give instructions to his players.

The first observations were not long in coming, Spanoulis repeatedly addressed his players and called for a quick defensive return and high pressure. It was the bench that listened to Spanoulis’ monologue every time he saw something he didn’t like, every time he wanted to propose to his substitutes. The big players’ intention to get the ball was clear early on and that’s what Vassilis Spanoulis wanted to see in the 40th minute, who didn’t hesitate to show his players it was strong and with characteristic movements.

A foul by Juston at 0.7” to the final of the first half was enough to raise questions for Vassilis Spanoulis, who could not understand his player’s movements and was surprised to raise his hands. His team went to the dressing room at +15, but he returned to the bench following his instructions, where he studied the statistics and made the plan for the second half.

The reward to the players, the referees’ recommendations and the clapping of hands to the protector

Two different plots, a contrast of feelings. This is how the game went for Vassilis Spanoulis. The Peristeri coach didn’t stop applauding his players every time they showed a good action, played a good defense or made a difficult or thoughtful shot.

Spanoulis rewarded his players. It motivated them to keep going with the same rigor or even more. He wasn’t the aloof manager the players fear. He shook hands whenever someone entered or left the pitch, knowing his players were doing their best, or at least in the mood for it.

Dimitris Moraitis prompted Spanoulis’ first mini-eruption. Specifically, three minutes before the end of the third period, Peristeri’s guard went all the way inside and tried to end the phase with a layup, but was blocked by his opponent.

Spanoulis didn’t like that, hitting the guard in front of the Peristeri bench, the only outburst he had during the game.

In fact, there were quite a few times (three to be precise) that Spanoulis went beyond the coach’s restricted area on the bench and attempted to enter the pitch. Of course, the referees made the typical move that was reminiscent of the limits in which he has to move as a coach – now Spanoulis. It obviously wasn’t easy for him to be confined to a straight line off the touchline, but his players made it easier for him in his first official game, handing the team the first pink card of his coaching career.