By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
This year the finals started without any real tension in Greece, however after Game 2 all hell broke lose once more. After the referees’ official report about Panathinaikos’ owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos threaten them during the half time of Sunday’s game, Olympiacos issued on Monday a press release asking for his punishment: “The behavior of this gentleman still has no consequences. We wonder why he has this special kind of immunity. At last, restrain him!”.
Of course, Panathinaikos answered with his own press release: “We are worried that Olympiacos is trying to create tension towards Game 3 by distorting the truth, their usual mondus operandi …we will not yield to their permanent wish to drive out every powerful president of Panathinaikos, in order to have the playing field to themselves without an opponent. We have also to vigorously salute the reappearance of Olympiacos’ owners after their silence on the very serious matter of the last days, for which we spoke and the Greek state mobilized”.
Panathinaikos is referring to the unfounded rumors about doping in Greek basketball, accusing the owners of Olympiacos for not tackling the issue. Olympiacos’ coach Bartzokas, however, in the official press conference of the finals said that his team is ready to be tested and the wish of Panathinaikos for extra controls is fulfilled, as five players from each team are tested after every game of the finals.