By Aris Barkas / barkas@eurohoops.net
According to the Greens’ sources, after the EuroLeague clubs’ announcement, concerning Panathinaikos and Dimitris Giannakopoulos, there was turmoil in the Giannakopoulos family, that decided to contact EuroLeague’s CEO, Jordi Bertomeu.
The purpose of this contact was for Panathinaikos to make clear that the team’s participation in EuroLeague is impossible. Both the Giannakopoulos family and Manos Papadopoulos asked for a change in the stance of Bertomeu, in order for the Greens’ to remain in the competition.
The EuroLeague CEO proposed a meeting after the Belgrade Final Four, to reach a solution, though the Greens’ answer was for the meeting to occur as soon as possible since there are major issues separating both sides.
This caused the reaction of the Greens’ board, which practically announced Panathinaikos’ departure from EuroLeague. At the same time, Panathinaikos is in constant contact with FIBA to join BCL.