By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After the team owners of Panathinaikos Aktor and Olympiacos refused to hold a joint meeting, the third party in the Greek government, and specifically the alternate minister for Sport, Giannis Vroutsis, set clear limits for Dimitris Giannakopoulos, Giorgos, and Panagiotis Angelopoulos.
“On Monday morning, everyone woke up disgusted; all of Greece woke up disgusted. The paradox is that in the game between two of the best teams in Europe, in a packed stadium, we saw embarrassing actions on the court and this is not tolerated by the government,” stressed 61-year-old Vroutsis in an interview with Greek radio station Real FM on Tuesday morning, “We were obliged to react, and we reacted. The first was to postpone the game, as was done.”
“On Wednesday at three o’clock [local time], I have personally invited the owners, Messrs. Angelopoulos and Mr. Giannakopoulos, to my office. They will not sit at the same table together to solve their personal issues, these will be solved by the courts of law. The goal is to send a resounding message against violence and toxicity so that the championship can continue,” he continued, setting the description of the planned meeting.
“If they come separately, it makes no sense. The message will be baseless if we do not send it together by all three,” he addressed the reluctance of the team owners to attend, “I do not operate with debates via public announcements and what is said. If they don’t show up to the appointment at three o’clock, the championship will stop at the table of the Minister of Sports. Because this is not sports.”
“Giannakopoulos will be at the appointment”
Vroutsis later clarified that Giannakopoulos has committed to attending the aforementioned meeting.
“Mr. Giannakopoulos will be at the appointment, so we have an initial positive response on my phone, stating that he wants to come. I hope and believe that this will be the case until the end,” he mentioned in an interview with Greek radio station Sport FM.
“I also appeal to the Angelopoulos brothers,” he added, “I am waiting for them to come to the table.”
The suspended Stoiximan GBL championship series is tied at 1-1. The decision to postpone Game 3 was announced on Monday.
GBL Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best of three)
Panathinaikos Aktor – Peristeri Domino’s 2-0 (88-68, 97-82)
Olympiacos – Panionios Viva Juices 2-0 (106-67, 91-85)
AEK Betsson – PAOK mateco 2-1 (89-76, 69-94, 89-85)
Promitheas Vikos Cola – Karditsa Iaponiki 2-1 (80-76, 74-78, 85-65)
Semifinals (best of three)
Panathinaikos Aktor – Promitheas Vikos Cola 2-0 (101-69, 97-59)
Olympiacos – AEK Betsson 2-0 (87-85, 90-64)
Classification games (single elimination)
Karditsa Iaponiki – PAOK mateco 90-76 (Karditsa ranked fifth)
Panionios Viva Juices – Peristeri Domino’s 102-93 (Peristeri ranked eighth)
Sixth place
PAOK Mateco – Panionios Viva Juices 94-78
Third place
AEK Betsson – Promitheas Vikos Cola 91-67
Finals (best of five)
Panathinaikos Aktor – Olympiacos 1-1 (80-68, 83-91)