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 PANAGIOTIS GIANNAKIS, head coach
"Good evening. I think that we showed a very hard and interesting game. Both teams tried to win until that the last seconds. My team tried to control the game in different ways. We had some success, but some details and some easy baskets from Panathinaikos kept us from the opportunity to play the final. I think we fought hard. I want to congratulate my players, but I think that if we had a little more concentration, we could have had a different result."
"In a game like this, you try to have the basket go down in the easiest possible way. Our team likes playing hard games with tough opponents. It's not problem if it lasts 40, 45, 50 or 60 minutes. We tried to find the best possible solution. We could have come up with a better one, though."
"I think that we actually had a lot of layups scored against us that we could have avoided. We were very impatient, I believe, and anxious to get to a big victory for our team. So I think we were a bit impatient."
 THEO PAPALOUKAS, guard
"It was a great game, a real battle between two very good teams. It was decided by small details. Had Bourousis made that basket, we would have been talking about us winning the game. The point is that if we want to call ourselves a really big team, we have to win these kind of great games. As for the final, I will support CSKA, my former team. We have to focus in the Greek League now and not be too disappointed about this, as well as have a good Third Place Game."
 JOSH CHILDRESS, forward
"We were where we wanted to be. We played well and it came down to the wire. Maybe we should have attacked their guards more, but that’s water under the bridge now. We played hard and we had our chances. The game came down to a seven-footer in the lane. That’s a good shot, but it didn’t go in. I tried to get the tip up, but I hit it too hard. We’ll be back in two days because we have pride and want to finish the season strong. [Barcelona] is a team that likes to get up-and-down and we’ll be ready."
 YOTAM HALPERIN, guard
"We wanted it to be close like any good semifinal should be. I’m proud of what we did here, reaching the Final Four as a new team. It’s a shame we lost. We followed our game plan, but we missed the last shot and that happens. Our plan was to come out and fight, be aggressive and give our best effort and we did. [Panathinaikos is] great. They are artists at winning big games. I am sure that Giannakis will have us ready for third place. It’s never easy to come back and play in that game when you really want to be playin gin the final, but we’ll be ready and we’ll try to win." |
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 ZELJKO OBRADOVIC, head coach
"Good evening. Before the game, in the last press conference, I said that every game between us and Olympiacos is a special game. I really believe that today's game was a special game in every sense. I think anyone who loves basketball enjoyed it very much. This is something the Euroleague needs, games like this one today. I want to congratulate my players for a great victory, but also to congratulate Olympiacos for the way the played and fought. I am also happy to see all of Europe watch this game. You must understand that between us - the players, the coaches, the staffs - everything is correct. And I am happy for this. A game like this is decided by small details. For Olympiacos, the last offense was unlucky. And we were lucky that Pekovic scored on our last offense. Balls go in or out of the rim, I don't know how. This was a game that in many moments we played good. I saw many good things, but we had some incredible turnovers, too. Leading by 8 points in the final quarter and with our experience, we must play smarter. We made those turnovers and allowed some easy shots that Olympiacos scored, but in the final on Sunday, it will be important not to do that. One more time, congratulations on a great game to my players and Olympiacos." "I said to Coach Giannakis what I am saying now: great game. I believe that I understand the pressure we all feel, everyone on both teams, in a hard game like this. I know how it feels and I went to him to congratulate him on for a really great game that they played."
"I say it was a great game, first of all, for the many, many good things we saw during the games, the quality of the players and how they played. It is not normal in a game like a semifinal to play so free and try so many things."
"What's important for me is team and players. They are heroes to play this tough, difficult game and find a way to win. Now, in CSKA, We find a great team going to its fourth final in a row, a team with great experience that took the title two times, with a great coach. They play like a team. The first thing I want to do is talk to my players and say that was a great victory tonight, but we didn't come here to beat Olympiacos. We want to take the trophy and we have quality without question. It will be difficult Sunday. I have to see the CSKA-Barcelona game still. I only saw some minutes, but now I'll go to the hotel to watch and prepare the team for a great final."
"I said before that for a team like ours, with the experience our players have, it was really, I believe, easier to win the game. We tried to put the ball inside because of the problems the big guys of Olympiacos can cause. You prepare, but the players have to play. Talking is easy, doing is difficult."
"I am not interested in personal things. What's most important is that Panathinaikos has a chance to win its fifth title. I only think of that. I am very proud and I understand what it means for our fans to win the game we won today. We go forward, but the personal challenges aren't as important team ones."
 MIKE BATISTE, forward
"We didn´t play our best game today. There are still some minor things that we need to improve, and we´ll try to do that on Sunday night. We played a lot of big games against Olympiacos in the last years and this one was another great game on the line. The fans created a great atmosphere and it was great to be in such game. Now on Sunday we play the finals against CSKA like two years ago in 2007. It´s going to be another great game. I´m sure they will come with big motivation to win and get back at us for last time, but we´re ready for the challenge. We want to show everyone that we´re number one again."
 NIKOLA PEKOVIC, center
"I don´t look on personal statistic. The main thing is that we played like a team and did what we had to do. It doesn´t matter what happened during the game. If we were up or down. The improtant thing is that at the end of the game we had more points and we won the game, and now we look to the future on Sunday. There´s a big tradition of big games against Olympiacos, since it´s two Greek teams, and it´s always tough to play against them but today we proved who is the better team."
 STRATOS PERPEROGLOU, forward
"It was an amazing game, both teams could have won it. We controlled the game tempo most of the time, but committed many turnovers. Olympiacos came back, but we managed to stay focused and win a very important game for us. It was been my first Final Four, but it has been great. The atmosphere was amazing and it was even more special for us because it was the Greek derby. We are happy that we won. CSKA is an experienced team that has been to the seven Final Fours in a row. We have to play much better and do everything better to beat them."
 SARUNAS JASIKEVICIUS, guard
"Today's game was very emotionally tiring, very intense, but now it is time to forget about it. We have to prepare ourselves because even though we did some things well tonight, I don't think we played a particularly great game. We have to play much better if we want to beat CSKA on Sunday, if we want to have a chance. The pressure of playing a Panathinaikos - Olympiacos game is very big, especially back home. I am lucky because I don't understand Greek to see what the guys are talking or what the papers are writing. The most important thing is to move on and think about CSKA. My main goal is to recuperate my body. I had a back problem from the beginning of the game, I don't know where that came from. We have to be mentally tough to beat CSKA, because they have a team that doesn't give anything away for free."
 DUSAN SAKOTA, forward
"It feels good to be here. Making it to the Final Four is a great achievement for our club history. We had a good year, a good season and can complete it with the Euroleague title. Of course, we will try to our best. We have to set the game rhythm that we need in this game and control the rebounds. The key will be avoiding mistakes as much as we can. This is my third Final Four and I am very proud of that. Above all, I hope it will not be my last."
 VASSILIS SPANOULIS, guard
"I think that we played good basketball during the game, taking advantage of some weaknesses that Olympiacos had. We showed big heart to win the game and took the first step to win the trophy. The fans were amazing, both sides. I want to thank all the Panathinaikos fans because their support is incredible. They gave us a big, big, big help. Now we all can expect a big final between very two very good teams. The final will be won by the team that stays more focused."
 DREW NICHOLAS, guard
"We expected a tough game and had some ups and downs. Thankfully, we were able to pull ahead a little bit in the last minute and held on to the win. It is going to be a great game. I am sure that a lot of people thought that CSKA and Panathinaikos could make it to the final when you looked at the rosters. I am not gonna say that it was an expectable final because it isn't. Olympiacos and Barcelona are great teams, too. Now it is us and CSKA and we have to play hard for another 40 minutes. It is great to be in a Final Four, it is a totally different kind of atmosphere. Seeing so many people from so many different countries watching the best basketball in Europe is very, very unique. I definitely think that fans saw two very good games tonight." |
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