By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The passing of Panathinaikos former longtime owner and president Pavlos Giannakopoulos, the man responsible for building the most successful European powerhouse of the last decades, was addressed today by two European basketball greats and also former members of the Greens.
Fenerbahce head coach Zeljko Obradovic, who coached Panathinaikos from 2000 to 2012 and led the team to five Euroleague and twenty Greek League/Cup titles said the following on Pavlos Giannakopoulos:
“Yesterday after I woke up a lot of friends from Greece told me that he passed away. An incredible person… 13 years that I will never forget that I spent with him. He was like my father. I have big respect for him. He, along with his brothers Kostas and Thanasis, made Panathinaikos a big club. I do not have enough words to thank him for the things he did for myself and all the people in Panathinaikos. A great person that everybody will remember for many years. People know him as Panathinaikos’ president but it was my pleasure to know him personally. I got a chance to learn the history of his family. So, my deepest condolences, first of all to his family and to all the people from Panathinaikos. Because I know how much loved he was.”
Sarunas Jasikevicius didn’t spend as many years with Panathinaikos as Zoc but also carries some pretty fond memories of Pavlos Giannakopoulos.
“Mr.Pavlos was amazing. With very limited English he always asked me: ‘How’s your family, Saras?’ We always talked about family. People loved him. So sad both bros passed away. I hope PAO will win the championship & dedicate it for Pavlos & Kostas,” Jasikevicius said after the Game 2 of the Lithuanian League Finals between Zalgiris Kaunas and Lietuvos Rytas, per Donatas Urbonas.