By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The protagonist of a surprising move from Trapani to Panathinaikos to return to the EuroLeague just a few months after leaving the competition in the summer, Tibor Pleiss landed in Athens.
Speaking to the media right after arriving in Greece to complete his move to Panathinaikos, he wishes to continue celebrating with Ergin Ataman. “We won two Euroleague titles together, we had a very good partnership, we won a total of nine titles in Turkiye,” he first said.
“We spent a lot of time together, we celebrated many times together and I hope we continue to celebrate here too. I know Panathinaikos, I was always on the opposite side. Now I will have this world, these amazing fans, on my side, they will be our sixth player and I am excited. I received a lot of love since yesterday from the Panathinaikos family,” the German player continued.
“Everything has happened so fast but I will be ready. I had to make a quick decision to come here. Everything is completely new. I will try to give everything. No game is easy in the Euroleague. We have to win every game if we want to be in the Final Four,” Tibor Pleiss added.
The two-time EuroLeague champs also spoke about the craziness of Panathinaikos fans. “That’s why you play basketball. I always enjoyed playing here. It’s something so special and I will enjoy it. Panathinaikos fans really make noise. It was so loud I had to ask twice about a play in a timeout with Efes,” he said.
Leaving Anadolu Efes after staying in Turkiye from 2018 to 2024, the 35-year-old big man joined the newly promoted Italian side Trapani to be coached by Jasmin Repesa, but things didn’t work out. He just spent 14.2 minutes per game in the LBA, averaging 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds.