By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Christos Stavropoulos, the GM of Olimpia Milan, talked to the webradio of the Greek basketball federation and explained the current state of talks in the EuroLeague, conserning the wildcards and the Russian clubs for next season.
While nobody expects for the Russian clubs to be part of the EuroLeague next season, Stavropoulos explained that so far the talks have not officially started on this issue: “It will definitely be a ‘hot’ summer, there are definitely a lot of decisions to be made. These decisions will be made by the clubs/shareholders. There is no decision on the issue of the Russian teams yet. This issue has not even been discussed. I think there will be some discussion early next month and also about the wildcards issue”.
Also Stavropoulos talked about the possibility of working together with FIBA. As he explained, he feels that a solution must be found, but on the other hand, currently there are no talks on this matter: “We don’t have any discussion with FIBA, but a solution must be found, because all the teams have a hard time with the national team “windows”. There are too many games, so something has to be done. I believe that it is in the common interest of all to find a solution, so that we can help not only the teams, but also European basketball in general”.
A former Olympiacos executive, he admitted that he would love to face his former team in the Final Four, however, Milan had more than its share of misfortune during the playoffs: “I was very upset, because we gave a big fight. We lost to injuries during the regular season first Savon Shields and then Dinos Mitoglou, no matter what happened with him next. And when we got to the playoffs against Efes, Malcolm Delaney was injured, Sergio Rodriguez also played with injury, Nicolo Melli was out and Mitoglou was found positive in a doping test. All this happened in the most critical moment for our team. Nevertheless, we fought until the last minute. You definitely need luck in sports, which we were unlucky”.
Stavropoulos also talked about Milan’s big rival, Virtus Bologna: “It is very important for Italian basketball to have two teams in the Euroleague again. On the other hand, it is good for us to have such a strong team against us, but also to play on equal terms. Until now we have played more difficult, important, and strong games, while Virtus gave fewer games and with less difficulty in the Eurocup. So starting the season in the league on equal terms is better for us. It is very important to have a competitive team in our domestic league, like Bologna”.