He was born and raised in a city that breathes volleyball. Therefore, his relationship with the sport was not least karmic, because while Orestiada was in the thick of it, he took his first steps in the sport.

The reason, of course, for Dimitris Garas, who on Thursday night celebrated capturing the fourth championship of his career and his first with Panathinaikos.

The 36-year-old libero joined Trifylli last summer to replace Giorgos Stefanou and played a key role in reception and defense alongside Charalambos Andreopoulos and Thanasis Protopsaltis to help Axel Jacobsen play his part.

Dimitris Garas spoke to Sportish about Panathinaikos’ championship conquest and the keys that led the Greens to the title.

Our discussion could not avoid starting with the Greens winning the title: “Both me and everyone at Panathinaikos (players, coaches, administration) are really happy. It’s been a very challenging year with a lot of games and four teams winning all the titles. In every game we’ve played with these three teams, we saw good games were judged in detail”.

In the four derbies Panathinaikos played against Olympiakos that year, all Greens emerged victorious, with the last win giving them the title. But what made the difference?

“He was definitely looking and both teams wanted it. Olympiacos fought a lot but didn’t succeed. We had the advantage of three points and the advantage that Olympiacos hadn’t beaten us this year. The Olympiacos team suited us All games ended with net results in our favour.

We read well against an opponent and faced an element that Olympiacos rely heavily on. I am of course referring to the service and the simple points from the service. I don’t just mean the aces, I also mean spoiling your opponent’s reception so much that he gets easy points.

“I think we got through that part well and got through it and I think the longer the ball stayed in the air, the more problems Olympiakos had.” mentioned features.

The title belongs to the world, we wait for you at OAKA

Immediately after the end of the game, the residents of Panathinaikos waited for the greens of the avenue to adore them, while next Thursday’s game with Finikas will have the character of a fiesta.

Dimitris Garas believes that the people of Panathinaikos also have a share in the success: “Every race, people have been there. They support all divisions and especially amateur ones. It’s important that all athletes have that support, regardless of the sport they play.

We are waiting for people to come on Thursday too. This title doesn’t just belong to us athletes and those of us who are on the team. It also belongs to the world. In every game they helped us with their voice and pulse. So we’re waiting for them to come to OAKA on Thursday to celebrate together.”

We’re leaving the battle that decided the title and going back to this year, which has afforded us at least one of the most exciting championships of the last decade.

Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, PAOK and Finikas Syros gave us terrible games with fear of going through to the final. Despite the fact that we had strong fights that were evaluated in detail, there were few games that ended 3-2.

Of course, we could not do without this in our conversation: “Everything played its role. Since this year was the championship, it was all about earning points. Both in the regular season and after the second phase, all teams had in mind that every point counts and I think , that played his.” role in the fact that we had such clear results”

But how did Dimitris Garas live this new system of hosting the championship? “It was quite stressful and soul-destroying. You had to be good in every match. In the playoffs, which was in the win-three, you could have had a poor showing. Now if you lost a point or points against Milonas or Kifissia, you would you do that.” have a goal disadvantage which is very important. You could hardly equal him”

An important role in the course of Panathinaikos this year played its course in Europe. The Greens did not make it to the end of the course after falling on the mighty Halkbank in the semifinals, but only emerged victorious from that journey on their return to European competitions.

“You’re always happy to play in Europe because you’re not just playing for your club, you’re playing for the whole of Greece. Those games certainly gave us a constant rhythm. As the games progressed we ran into better teams and this competition got us pushed us to improve.” more.

I think we’ve made remarkable progress. We’ve reached the semifinals. Okay, Halkbank were a team that was better than us in a number of ways. I think we looked them in the eye and never put our heads down. I always hope that Greek teams play in Europe and that Greece and Greek clubs are heard. said the 36-year-old libero.

Looking back, we asked him to unravel the secret that led the Greens to the title, and without much thought he told us: “The secret of the team is that we wanted it so badly. Our relationship was so close and we were so focused on what we were doing, what was coming out on the pitch. Each of us pushed each other to improve, and the coaches did it.” . the same so that we do not relax at all to come to the end of this championship “.

The belated first title, the thirst even Eno has

We go back in time a lot. As a kid taking his first steps in volleyball in a city that then lived and breathed for the sport. Of course, we are referring to Orestiada, who played in the Greek championship in those years and made little Dimitris dream of similar moments.

“All children start with dreams. When they start something, they want to reach the top and then build something big. In this part I was lucky because he lived, even off the field, the good years of Orestiada.

I had and still have images in my mind of Orestiada, who won a championship, had good European courses, the finals with Olympiakos and Aris. So I thought that as a kid I could play in games like that and win titles.

Of course, the first title in my career came a bit late, it was the trophy with PAOK in 2015, but I think when it reached it I was even thirstier. It’s a great feeling to win trophies in your career..

When he took his first steps in the sport, his position as a libero was something new. Which athletes did he have as role models and wanted to look like this?“When I started my career, the position of libero was new. In Orestiada, the first was Dimitris Amaxopoulos, who had a great career as a player for Ethniki.

Later I had models mainly from abroad. One player I admired was Uber Eno. One of the best libero in the world and for me maybe the best. He had one quality that set him apart. That was his calm.

His movements were as harmonious as if he were dancing on the court. You’ve never seen him closely. That was the quality that won me over and made me look to him as a role model and try to follow him..

The year is not over for Panathinaikos. The Greens face a double duel with their evil demon Finikas Syros this year. Both teams qualify for the League Cup final.

About this double duel he said: “It’s a title we want to claim. Two games this time. I think now that the burden of winning the championship is off, I think we can do it..

At the end of the conversation, we asked him about his plans for the new season: “It’s still early days. I think it’s too early for the teams. I can still take it, I think I’m in teams that make championships. I wish Panathinaikos could offer me an extension and continue next year similar course as this year.”