By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The flirt between Yiannis Bourousis and Panathinaikos was one of the first exclusives that Eurohoops.net had published in the 2nd of March. In the end of that post there was a version of the possible future of the Greens, that now seems to be just one step away from becoming a reality.
As we had written: “The news of the flirt between PAO and Bourouris are interesting, but there is also a very interesting side story from the moves of the European champion.
The team is working for the “next day”, even though the owners, Giannakopoulos brothers, have emphatically said that they want to leave the team. Until now, nobody has found any other investor for Panathinaikos and with the current state of Greek economy and Greek basketball, this seems almost impossible.
Where do we put our money? The Euroleague champions will continue their course with the same family on board. Thanasis Giannakopoulos will probably remain active, his brother Pavlos will retire (there is a chance that he will remain for honorary reasons the president of the team) and the budget will be cut, but not so drastically. The target will remain for Panathinaikos to be the king of Greece and one of the best teams of Euroleague.
Sponsors, season tickets, television rights and some other revenues can keep the team alive and competitive, until the next day is found. After a year of searching, no other businessman seems to be interested in buying and running the team, but the big love affair of Giannakopoulos brothers with Panathinaikos can’t simply end…”