By George Adamopoulos/ gadamopoulos@eurohoops.net
The latest episode of Final Four Stories by Stoiximan features Ian Vougioukas, who takes a nostalgic look back at the 2010-11 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season and the Final Four at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi.
The 40-year-old former center revisited how Panathinaikos captured their sixth continental championship, sharing fascinating behind-the-scenes insights regarding head coach Zeljko Obradovic and the legendary play-caller’s well-documented hug with Dimitris Diamantidis.
One of the most vivid memories recalled involved a tense moment during a practice session leading up to the tournament, highlighting the intense psychology and unmatched memory of Obradovic. “I remember before the Final Four, in a training session, let’s say I made a mistake, I don’t know, I don’t remember exactly what it was. I made a mistake, and Obradovic yelled at me. He says, ‘Have you been to a Final Four before and do stuff like that?’ Basically, concentrate because you have to be here,” he told Eurohoops. “I had played a little bit with Olympiacos in Berlin. But at that moment, I was ashamed to say anything. I didn’t tell him anything because I’m like, what can I say now in front of everyone.”
“The Final Four ends, we get the trophy, we return, and on the way back to the plane, while there were such emotions and joy, etc. Obradovic suddenly approaches me and says, ‘Why didn’t you tell me that you had played in a Final Four back then?’. I was impressed by how he remembered this and kept it and had the thought to tell me. It’s a small example of what kind of person and what kind of mind this person has,” he continued.
The conversation also turned to the profound leadership of Panathinaikos icon Diamantidis. “First of all, I remember that hug very well,” he mentioned. “I saw it in front of me at that moment at the end of the game. I wasn’t playing. I was on the bench, and I was standing, and I saw that hug live and up close.”
“I know that this moment is still important. What can you say about Diamantidis? What he did, it just shows once again what kind of person he is and what kind of teammate he is,” added Vougioukas. “I can say a lot about Diamantidis with just a few words, but he himself doesn’t say much, but he shows it. He constantly shows it with actions that made him the best.”
Reflecting on his actual time on the court during the championship game, Vougioukas expressed mild surprise at how much responsibility he was given over other seasoned teammates. “I didn’t remember that I had played so much, and because you mentioned Tsartsaris, a player and person that I respect a lot, but I will be able to tell him that I played more than him in this final,” he explained to Eurohoops. “There was understanding, a common goal.”